Historically Black Fort Valley State University in Georgia has formed a partnership with the University of Georgia to provide summer research opportunities for Fort Valley State students. The Rising Scholars Internship is an opportunity for students from FVSU to conduct research with scientists from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and reside on the UGA campus in Athens from May 23 through July 23.
The paid, nine-week program is intended for students who have an interest in research and are planning to attend graduate school in agriculture and related sciences. Participants will conduct supervised research on agricultural and environmental sciences before preparing a research paper and presenting their findings in a professional setting.
To be eligible, students must have a focus in agricultural or environmental sciences, interest in conducting and communicating scientific research, availability for the full nine weeks of the program, intention to attend graduate school, and a minimum FVSU grade point average of 3.0. Rising Scholars will receive a $1,500 stipend at the end of each month in addition to a housing and meal allowance. The internship is open to juniors and seniors attending Fort Valley State University.
“This program represents a wonderful opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in cutting-edge research and prepare for graduate school. We are enthusiastic about our ongoing partnership with our colleagues at Fort Valley State University, and this internship is integral to our broader goal of recruiting outstanding students for graduate studies at UGA,” said Ron Walcott dean of the Graduate School and vice provost of graduate education at the University of Georgia.
Additional information about the program is available here.
I wonder why did it take decades or even centuries for this first level research opportunity for FVSU students at UGA. Let’s see. FVSU started in 1895 and UGA in 1785 even though ‘Negroes” (time dated term) did not attend until 1961 (Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter). Yet, it has taken six decades in order for UGA to establish a collaborative research opportunity with FVSU in 2022.
More emphatically, UGA should be duly ashamed for fostering an “all with deliberate speed” approach with FVSU. Too bad UGA does not value FVSU in the same manner as they do with top Black male athletes playing football, basketball, or running track at UGA. Talk about higher educational hypocrisy.