[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 95 (Thursday, May 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 22105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10105]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 95 / Thursday, May 16, 2019 / 
Notices  

[[Page 22105]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture


Designation as a Non Land Grant College of Agriculture

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of revision to Non Land Grant College of Agriculture 
(NLGCA) definition and invitation to request NLGCA designation.

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SUMMARY: Section 7102 of the Agriculture Act of 2018 revises the 
definition of a Non Land Grant College of Agriculture and requires the 
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) ensure compliance 
with the revised definition by proposing revocation of Non Land Grant 
designations where prior designees do not comply with the new NLGCA 
definition. All institutions certified prior to December 21, 2018 must 
reapply for certification and meet the new criteria for NLGCA 
certification. NLGCA designation satisfies the eligibility requirement 
for the Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land Grant Colleges of 
Agriculture program.

DATES: NIFA has updated its process for designating NLGCA and is 
inviting new requests for NLGCA designation effective immediately upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanna Moore, Policy Specialist, 
[email protected], 202-690-6011.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 7102 of the 2018 Agriculture 
Improvement Act:
    (1) Amended the definition of ``NLGCA Institution'' and ``non-land-
grant College of agriculture''. 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 agricultural sciences, 
forestry, or both, which is any of the 32 specified areas of study: 
Agricultural and domestic animal services; Agricultural and extension 
education services; Agricultural and food products processing; 
Agricultural business and management; Agricultural communication or 
agricultural journalism; Agricultural economics; Agricultural 
engineering; Agricultural mechanization; Agricultural production 
operations; Agricultural public services; Agriculture; Animal sciences; 
Applied horticulture or horticulture operations; Aquaculture; 
Equestrian/Equine Studies; Floriculture or floristry operations and 
management; Food science; Forest sciences and biology; Forestry; 
Greenhouse operations and management; International agriculture; 
Natural resource economics; Natural resources management and policy; 
Natural resources or conservation; Ornamental horticulture; Plant 
nursery operations and management; Plant sciences; Range science and 
management; Soil sciences; Turf and turfgrass management; Urban 
forestry; and Wood science and wood products or pulp or paper 
technology.
    (2) Removed Opt-in, Opt-out language for Hispanic Serving 
Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACU) and McIntire-Stennis 
Colleges and Universities.
    (3) Required, within 90 days of enactment of the Agriculture 
Improvement Act of 2018, that NIFA establish a process of reviewing 
NLGCA designees to ensure compliance with the revised definition and to 
propose revocation of the designation where NLGCA's were found 
noncompliant.

Requesting NLGCA Designation

    A flow chart describing the process for determining eligibility is 
available at https://nifa.usda.gov/program/capacity-building-grants-non-land-grant-colleges-agriculture-program. To determine programmatic 
fit in Areas of Study, NIFA will utilize the Department of Education's 
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) definitions as a 
guideline. These are available for reference at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode. You may request consideration of an additional Area of 
Study by the Secretary of Agriculture. The requirements for this are 
detailed on the web form mentioned below. A determination will be made 
within 90 days of submitting a request for the inclusion of a new Area 
of Study.
    All interested institutions who meet the above criteria must apply 
for NLGCA certification. All institutions certified prior to December 
21, 2018 must reapply for certification and meet the new criteria for 
NLGCA certification; Previous NLGCA certification is not a guarantee of 
continued certification.
    To request that NIFA provide certification of NLGCA status, an 
Authorized Representative (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

    Requests for NLGCA designation are accepted on a rolling basis. 
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.

    Done at Washington, DC, on May 7, 2019.
Steve Censky,
Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2019-10105 Filed 5-15-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-22-P