Historically Black Land-Grant Universities Celebrate USDA Agreement as a 'Big Win' — and a Reassurance

Source: International Business Times

West Virginia State University President Ericke S. Cage — chair of the Council of 1890 University Presidents — called the March 5, 2026 USDA Memorandum of Understanding a "big win," saying it provides a formalized platform for 1890 institutions to raise critical issues directly with the federal agency and find alignment with USDA funding priorities — a reassurance that came after a rocky start that included the temporary suspension of the 1890 Scholars Program in early 2025. ( Leaders of the nation's 19 historically Black land-grant universities are celebrating a formal agreement signed with the U.