The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
announced the rollout of its Educational Partnership Program with Minority-Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) that will award approximately $15 million in FY2001 funds for programs aimed at atmospheric, environmental and oceanic sciences and remote sensing research and educational programs.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans today announced awards to officials from four leading MSIs: City College of the City University of New York, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Howard University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

"This new education initiative is a special partnership effort between NOAA and several academic institutions to expand education, research and professional opportunities in NOAA-related sciences," Evans said. "I thank these institutions and the communities they serve for adding to a rich network of research and scientific resources that will benefit NOAA and the nation."

NOAA's Educational Partnership Program initiative is designed to support the development of quality education to students at minority serving institutions while meeting the prescribed goals of NOAA and the nation. Working with partner MSIs and other research and federal government institutions, the NOAA program provides opportunities and programs for students to pursue careers in atmospheric, environmental and oceanic sciences and remote sensing.

The EPP/MSI initiative provides funds to establish Cooperative Science Centers that will concentrate on atmospheric, environmental and ocean sciences and remote sensing. It also calls for the development of an Environmental Entrepreneurship Program, an Undergraduate Scholarship Program and a Graduate Sciences Program to support the training of students attending MSIs in NOAA-related sciences.

Four Cooperative Science Centers, will be established at four lead MSIs:

• City College of the City University of New York, New York, N.Y. — Remote Sensing Cooperative Science Center
• Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, Fla. — Environmental Sciences Cooperative Science Center
• Howard University, Washington, D.C. — Atmospheric Sciences Cooperative Science Center
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Md. Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center

While four Cooperative Science Centers are designated, a total of 17 MSIs
will be funded and participate as partners at these centers. Cooperative Science Center
partners include:

Remote Sensing Cooperative Science Center

• Lehman College, Bronx, N.Y.
• Bronx Community College, Bronx, N.Y.
• University of Puerto Rico — Mayaguez, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
• University of Maryland — Baltimore County, Baltimore, Md.; Bowie State University, Bowie, Md.
• Hampton University, Hampton, Va.

Environmental Sciences Cooperative Science Center

• South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, S.C.
• Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.
• Jackson State University, Jackson, Miss.
• Delaware State University, Dover, Del.
• University of Miami, Miami, Fla.

Atmospheric Sciences Cooperative Science Center

• University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas
• Jackson State University, Jackson, Miss.
• University of Puerto Rico — Mayaguez, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
  

Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center

• Savannah State University, Savannah, Ga.
• Hampton University, Hampton, Va.
• Delaware State University, Dover, Del.
• University of Miami, Miami, Fla.

The Undergraduate Science Program offers students a 10-week paid internship program with NOAA and provides scholarship funds to students during the academic year. Students who continue training during the academic year in a NOAA- related field and maintain an acceptable GPA will be offered an opportunity for a second 10-week internship training at a NOAA field site the following summer.

The Graduate Sciences Program provides financial assistance to six MSI students for graduate-level training in NOAA-related occupations. Students accepted to articipate in this program are hired as NOAA employees and commit to a pre- determined tenure of service with the agency.

The Environmental Entrepreneurship Program provides funds through a competitive process to support education and training to strengthen the capacity of MSIs. Thirteen grants are awarded annually to MSIs that support program development and environmental restoration activities with the aim of increasing the entry of individuals from under-represented groups into environmental fields.

For more information on NOAA's Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions, please visit http://www.ofa.noaa.gov/~sdb/EPPS1.htm or contact the program manager at (301) 713-9437.

The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources.

To learn more about NOAA, please visit http://www.noaa.gov.