Increase the number of professionals from under-represented groups in NOAA sciences.

NOAA’s Educational Partnership Program is designed to provide financial assistance to minority serving academic institutions to support collaborative research and training of students in NOAA-related sciences through competitive processes.  The program’s goal is to increase the number of students who are trained and graduate in sciences directly related to NOAA’s mission.  It also seeks to increase collaborative research efforts between NOAA scientists and researchers at minority serving academic institutions, as defined by the Department of Education.  Financial assistance is provided through four program components, they include: the Cooperative Science Centers; the Environmental Entrepreneurship Program; the Graduate Sciences Program; and, the Undergraduate Scholarship Program.