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USDA Women and Minorities in STEM Fields (WAMS)

[Posted Apr 05, 2012]
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Deadline: April 12, 2012; Requires 1:1 cost share; $75K to $300K

WAMS Grant Program Goals:

  1. Develop successful academic recruitment and retention programs increasing the number of women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas who will pursue and complete a postsecondary degree in STEM disciplines funded by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and for FY 2012, encourage projects focused on any of the five NIFA Challenge Areas; and,
  2. Foster partnerships among academic institutions and employers that develop sustainable research or extension initiatives to increase the participation of women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in experiential learning opportunities leading to STEM-related careers in disciplines funded by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and for FY 2012, encourage projects focused on any of the five NIFA Challenge Areas.

A WAMS project should focus on at least one of the following three Program Areas:

  1. Recruitment/Retention Strategies: Projects specifically developed to identify, advise, and place women and underrepresented minority students from rural areas into postsecondary academic degree-granting programs within STEM disciplines addressing at least one of the five NIFA Challenge Areas and ensure their continued success through mentoring activities.
  2. Research and Extension Strategies: Projects specifically developed to identify, advise, and place women and underrepresented minority students from rural areas into experiential learning opportunities within STEM disciplines listed in the five NIFA Challenge Areas and ensure their continued success through mentoring activities. Where possible, projects that also contribute to the economic viability of rural communities are also encouraged.
  3. Career Guidance Programs or Motivational Strategies: Projects specifically developed to identify, advise, and select women and underrepresented minority employees from rural areas currently working in non-STEM occupations to obtain any necessary, postsecondary academic coursework, research or extension training needed to switch to STEM-related occupations addressing the five NIFA Challenge Areas.