Rep. Marcia Fudge seeks "land grant" status for Central State University

Published December 20, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.

By Sabrina Eaton from the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge is trying to secure language in a pending farm bill that would make Central State University Ohio's second "land grant school" and qualify it to receive millions of extra federal dollars each year.

Fudge, who is among the negotiators hammering out a compromise between farm legislation passed by the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, says she's optimistic the final bill will carry language that would bestow land grant status on the historically black institution in Wilberforce, Ohio.

She said land grant status would provide additional resources and access to more agricultural programs to the school that serves many Northeast Ohio students.

"I am hopeful it will be in there," said Fudge. "I don't know why there should be any issue."

Ohio's state legislature approved a resolution last year to pave the way for Central State's designation as a land grant institution under the Morrill Act of 1890, which set up 18 black land-grant universities that are eligible for federal money under a variety of agriculture programs.
According to State Sen. Chris Widener of Springfield, Ohio's general assembly came close to designating Central State a land grant institution 120 years ago, but stopped short.

He said the 1890 act allowed states to get extra land grant money for their existing land grant schools, or designate a second school to get money. States with racially segregated or discriminatory higher education systems could not receive land grant money unless they designated a second land grant school open to black students.

Because Ohio schools weren't segregated, the state could pick where to send the additional funds. Widener's office said it obtained records that showed Ohio's Senate passed legislation in 1892 to give the 1890 money and designation to Central State's predecessor institution.

However, the Ohio House of Representatives, at the urging of former U.S. President and Ohio State Trustee Rutherford B. Hayes, reversed course and gave the funds to the state's existing land grant school, Ohio State University, Widener's office said. It said
Ohio is one of only two states to have a public historically black college or university (HBCU) but to not have named that university its 1890 land grant school.

Widener's office said the new designation would allow Central State and Ohio State to partner on programs that will draw additional federal dollars to the state.

"As Ohio's second land grant school, Central State will grow in exciting new ways and students will be afforded many more opportunities," said a statement from Widener.

Officials from Ohio State University and the Ohio Board of Regents told state legislators they support giving land grant status to Central State.

"It will further Central State's mission of providing a valuable education, will expand on the school's current agriculture and mechanical arts programs, will allow another state institution to draw down federal funds aimed at increasing educational attainment and will open the door to wonderful collaborative opportunities with The Ohio State University and other 1890 institutions," Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Jim Petro said at the time.

Central State president Cynthia Jackson-Hammond said becoming a land grant institution would give Central State access to federal resources that support research in agriculture and the STEM disciplines: science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

"Additionally. the designation will help support students' interest in aquaculture, water resource management, soil conservation and other disciplines that are critical to America's land preservation," said a statement from Jackson-Hammond.

Passage of a final farm bill is expected in early 2014. While legislative bargaining continues, existing programs were extended until the end of January to avoid cutting farm subsidies and increasing milk prices. Fudge said she expects the final product will restore some of the $40 billion the House cut from the food stamp program.