September 6 – The end of August marked a significant milestone in the history of some of the nation’s most storied institutions: the 131st anniversary of the Second Morrill Act of 1890.

The Second Morrill Act of 1890 was created after the original Morrill Act of 1862 called for states to develop agriculture and mechanical arts colleges with funds from public land sales. When race-related restrictions at those institutions excluded blacks from attending, the Second Morrill Act of 1890 was signed.

The historic signing marked the designation of land-grant universities, which later became known as Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

To honor the 131st anniversary, United States Rep. Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., of North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District, introduced a resolution honoring the occasion.

“1890s Land Grant Universities, like all Historically Black Colleges and Universities, have opened doors of opportunity for millions of students over the past 131 years,” Adams, founder, and Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, said. “Especially as we face a global pandemic, it’s important to remember these institutions are more than universities: they’re the cornerstones of communities both urban and rural.”

At Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), the impact of the Second Morrill Act of 1890 is vital in the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences (CAHS), according to the college’s Dean and Director of Land Grant Programs Gerard D’Souza.

“In the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, we live and breathe the land-grant mission,” he said. “The essence of our work is taking this college’s academic knowledge and the research discoveries to the people through our extension outreach. We are indeed grateful for the Second Morrill Act and the work it allows us to do to transform the lives of our stakeholders.”

D’Souza said the work done in CAHS serves as a testament to the establishment of the Second Morrill Act of 1890. Signature programs and notable work include:

  • Healthy Houston by Prairie View A&M University: Formerly known as the Healthy Houston Initiative, the program is a partnership with PVAMU, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Complete Communities Initiative, and the Texas A&M University System with Chancellor John Sharp as a major supporter. Within PVAMU, the Colleges of Agriculture and Human Sciences, Nursing, Juvenile Justice and Psychology, and Business work together to develop programming that uses a portfolio of educational, healthcare assessment, and outreach programs. The program also partners with the community- and faith-based organizations, school districts, youth agencies, and local businesses to offer nutrition and wellness workshops, virtual and face-to-face programs, health screening, nutrition demonstrations, financial literacy, mental health “first aid,” and community gardening activities.
  • The Rural Workforce Academy (TRWA): The pilot program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration Department of Commerce and PVAMU. The Cooperative Extension Program will provide skilled trades training certification and job placement to rural counties impacted by disasters through that grant. The certifications offered will provide value-added impact, addressing the much-needed rebuilding and recovery efforts in rural Texas. Program participants will choose one of four concentration areas of training: Welding, Core Construction, Certified Nursing Assistant, or Electrical Technician.
  • Provisional Patent for Potential Plant Sweetener: A team of CAHS researchers received a provisional patent for the potential use of the phyla dulcis plant in non-caloric sweetener production. The provisional patent opens the way for further studies to prepare the plant for usage in sweetener production.
  • Stronger Together Summit: Faculty from the CAHS joined forces with their colleagues from Texas A&M AgriLife for the first Stronger Together virtual summit. The summit paired faculty members with their counterparts in Animal Science, International Programming, Nutrition, and Food Systems, and Plant and Environmental Science. The participants shared their respective work and identified potential opportunities for future areas of collaboration, including Smart Agriculture and Space Agriculture