Riverside City College Awarded $1.2 M USDA HSI Grant to Launch Innovative Soil Science Program in Collaboration with Texas A&M University

Nov 04, 2024
Two students looking at fruit in the RCC Garden

Riverside City College (RCC) has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Education Collaboration Grant Program. The grant, part of a national initiative by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), will fund the "Soil Science Integrated Learning and Career Opportunity Partnership" (SSOIL-COP) project led by Texas A&M University, in collaboration with RCC and other institutions across California and Texas.

Dr. Heather Smith, RCC’s dedicated principal investigator, will serve as Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on the project, marking her as the only USDA-funded principal investigator at RCC. Dr. Smith’s involvement underscores a longstanding and fruitful relationship between RCC and the USDA, spearheaded in part by National Program Officer Dr. Irma Lawrence, who has supported RCC's efforts since 2005.

"We are thrilled to be part of such a transformative program,” Dr. Smith noted. “The need for soil scientists is critical nationwide, and each year fewer students enter the field. This grant provides RCC students a unique opportunity to engage in soil science through cutting-edge online courses and hands-on internships with leading universities and federal agencies.”

The SSOIL-COP project addresses a significant demand for skilled soil scientists across the U.S., where soil science programs have seen notable declines in enrollment since the 1990s, particularly among underrepresented populations. The consortium—comprising RCC, Texas A&M University, UC Davis, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and others—aims to attract, retain, and support underserved students pursuing careers in soil science. Through this initiative, 42 students will receive financial support and benefit from tailored mentorship, leadership training, and experiential learning opportunities.

Key objectives of SSOIL-COP include:

  1. Establishing a student success program focused on attracting and retaining underrepresented students in soil sciences.
  2. Creating a structured mentorship and leadership program to aid students' academic and career growth.
  3. Coordinating summer internships that offer hands-on experiences with federal agencies, NGOs, and private institutions.
  4. Developing an accessible online soil science curriculum for use in community colleges and introductory university courses.

Dr. Smith will also lead the creation of the online curriculum, designed to make soil science education accessible to two-year institutions nationwide. This aligns with the USDA HSI Program’s goal to support HSIs in developing educational programs that empower students to enter essential fields related to food, agriculture, natural resources, and the sciences.

This USDA-NIFA HSI educational collaboration grant not only promises to open new doors for RCC students but also strengthens RCC’s role as a leader in soil science education within the community college system.