[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 99 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 29398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11851]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture


Process for Non-Land Grant College of Agriculture (NLGCA) 
Designation

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Section 7101 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 requires the 
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to establish a 
process through which institutions may apply for designation as a 
NLGCA. Designation as a NLGCA is one way an institution may qualify to 
receive an exemption from the new matching fund requirement described 
in Section 7128 of the Agricultural Act of 2014. NLGCA designation also 
satisfies the eligibility requirement for the Capacity Building Grants 
for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture program, which is authorized 
under 7 U.S.C. 3319i.
    This notice outlines the criteria to qualify for NLGCA designation 
and the steps to obtain such designation. Additionally, McIntire-
Stennis and Hispanic-serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities may 
opt out of their current designation and request NLGCA designation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Lockhart (202) 559-5088, (FAX) 
(202) 401-7752, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Criteria for NLGCA Designation

    In order for an institution to qualify as a NLGCA, it must be a 
public college or university offering a baccalaureate or higher degree 
in the study of food and agricultural sciences, as defined in 7 U.S.C. 
3103(9).

Opting Out of Current Designation

    Section 7101 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-73), 
amended 7 U.S.C. 3103 to allow Hispanic-serving Agricultural Colleges 
and Universities (HSACUs) and State-certified non-land grant 
institutions eligible to receive funds under the McIntire-Stennis 
Cooperative Forestry Act of 1962 to opt out of their respective 
designation to qualify as Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture. For 
these institutions to be considered for NLGCA designation, an 
Authorized Representative (AR) of one of these institutions must submit 
a declaration of the institution's intent not to be considered a HSACU 
or Cooperating Forestry School, as applicable, to 
[email protected] prior to submitting the request for NLGCA 
status.
    For example, the email should read ``The [insert name of University 
and City/State] has decided to opt out of being classified as an HSACU/
as an institution eligible to receive funds under the McIntire- Stennis 
Cooperative Forestry Act of 1962, in accordance with Section 7101 of 
the Agricultural Act of 2014. We plan on applying for designation as a 
Non-Land-Grant College of Agriculture.''
    Requests to opt out of McIntire-Stennis status must be submitted by 
June 13th for fiscal year 2014, and for fiscal years 2015 through 2018, 
by December 30th. In accordance with Section 7101, this declaration by 
such institutions shall remain in effect until September 30, 2018, and 
will result in the institution not being eligible for funds available 
to it under its prior status for this period of time.

Requesting NLGCA Designation

    To request that NIFA provide certification of NLGCA status, an AR 
must go to http://www.nifa.usda.gov/form/form.html and submit a web-
based form indicating the institution meets the qualifications. By 
submitting this request electronically, the AR certifies that they have 
the authority to make this request on behalf of their institution.

Receipt of NLGCA Designation

    Within 30 days of submission, NIFA will provide the administrative 
point of contact specified on the request, with a certification of 
NLGCA designation or a response indicating why the request for 
certification is being denied. Future Requests for Application issued 
by NIFA may require NLGCA certification. NIFA will include instructions 
for attaching the certification to the applications, as appropriate.
    This process is in effect immediately upon publication in the 
Federal Register.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 16th day of May, 2014.
Meryl Broussard,
Associate Director, Programs, National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2014-11851 Filed 5-21-14; 8:45 am]
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