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handle is hein.crs/govedow0001 and id is 1 raw text is: ress of Aes~aich Servce [ahtwiir~j lb I dr~x4e i~ric~ '~ 1K414 9 June 9, 2021 1890 Land-Grant Universities: Background and Selected Issues The 1890Institutions are the historically Blackcolleges and universities (HBCUs) that belong to the U.S. land-grant university (LGU) system. As such, they receive federal funds for agriculturalresearch, education, and extension through programs administeredby the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). States and territories provide required nonfederal matching funds for some of these programs. Congress supports the 1890Institutions andotherLGUs though appropriations, legislation, and oversight. Background The U.S. LGU system-comprising the 1862 Institutions (57 original LGUs), 1890 Institutions (19 HBCU LGUs), and 1994Institutions (35 TribalLGUs)-is a partnership between the federal government and the states, with a threefold mis s ion of teaching, res earch, and extension. LGUs are present in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and most U.S. territories. They originally focused on agriculture and the mechanical arts and now engage in a variety of academic disciplines. The Morrill Act of 1890 (26 Stat. 417; 7 U.S.C. §321 et seq.) led to establishmentof the 1890 Institutions. It provided funding for LGUs and prohibited racial discrimination in student admis sions for recipient institutions. The act co nsideBred co mpliant those s tate s that established separate institutions of like character for White and nonwhite students. The 19 1890 Institutions are located in 18 states (Figure 1). Each has a college of agriculture and is eligible to receive funds under certain NIFA programs. For funding purposes, Alabama's two 1890 Institutions-Alabama A&M University and Tuskegee University-are treated as though they are located in separate states. Figure 1. Map of 1890 Institutions Grant Programs NIFA administers federal funds for LGUs through two primary grant types. NIFA distributes capacity grants, also known as formula funds, among eligible institutions based on statutory formulas. These grants generally require one- to-one nonfederalmatching funds (providedby the state or other nonfederal sources). Recipient institutions develop Plans ofWork(subject to approvalby NIFA) and decide which oftheirown projects tosupport. NIFA awards competitive grants directly to specific projects proposed by eligible applicants and selected through a national peer- review proces s. Grants of either type may focus on agricultural research, education, extension, or some combination of the three (integratedactivities). Certain grant programs are specific to particular LGU types, and others are open to a variety of applicants. The text boxon the next page provides more information on 1890 Institution programs. USDA Initiative In addition to grant programs established through legislation, USDA has managed the USDA/1890 National Scholars Programas a departmentalinitiative since 1992. USDA partners with the 1890 Institutions to provide students of food, agriculture, andrelated disciplines with scholarships and temporary USDA employment. USDA agencies provide work experience and pay students' tuition and fees; theuniversitiespayforroomand board. Considerations for Congress Federal support of the colleges and universities that comprise the LGU systemhas strengthened agricultural research, education, and extension. Some argue that differences in federal s upport for the 1862, 1890, and 1994 Institutions constitute inequities that Congress may consider addressing. Others may argue that institutional differences-including the numbers of students served, types of degrees awarded, and focal mis sions-should factor into federalfunding allocations and programmatic decisions affecting the LGU system. NIFA programs primarily support agriculture-related activities, and LGUs derive financial support fromother sources (e.g., other federal programs, endowments, student tuition). Federal Appropriations The original LGUs receive the greatest proportion of federalcapacity funds specific to agricultural research and extension, accounting for 82% of such funding in 2020 (see Table 1 for details on includedprograms), followed by the 1890 (18%) and 1994 Institutions (0%). Although the 1862 Institutions are the most numerous and serve the greatest number of students (Table 1), some argue that historical funding for agricultural research and extension at the 1890 Source: Map created by CRS. ttps://crsreports.cong re 1890 Institutions