The TERA program—launched in 1992—focuses national attention on the role of teaching, Extension, and research in recruiting and retaining the scientific and professional expertise essential to the future growth and progress of our Nation’s food and agricultural system.
The program is segmented into three pillars: Research, Teaching, and Extension.
(Supporting materials for both the research and Extension award programs is currently under development. The information below and on associated pages addresses the teaching awards program solely.)
Through a partnership with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the National Food and Agricultural Sciences Teaching, Extension, and Research Awards (TERA) program funds annual awards to recognize faculty from a college or university who exhibit sustained, meritorious, and exceptional teaching at the postsecondary level within the agriculture, natural resources, veterinary, and human sciences.
Its goal is to address the national priority of providing sufficient quality and quantity of graduates entering the food and agricultural sciences workforce.
A selection committee comprising nationally recognized teachers and scholars chooses two recipients in the following three categories:
- National recipients
- Early career recipients
- Teaching and student engagement recipients
The program also supports up to six regional awards . Nominees are evaluated based on their ability as instructors as well as on educational innovation, service to students, professionalism, and scholarship.
About These Awards
This NIFA grant program supports the Teaching, Research, and Extension Awards presented at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ annual meeting. In addition to the prize amounts, the program funds a five-year grant for the administration of the award’s Teaching portion.
NIFA works directly with APLU committees and staff to fund and administer the Research and Extension portions, as well as the annual Memorial Lecture Series.
Teaching Award Prize Amounts
Outstanding teachers are recognized at the National, Regional, Early Career, and Teaching and Student Engagement Levels through award prizes. A maximum of two $5,000 National; two $5,000 Teaching and Student Engagement; six $2,000 Regional; and two $2,000 Early Career Teacher awards will be made annually.
These monetary awards will be disbursed to the recipient’s college or university for the purpose of strengthening instructional programs in the food and agricultural sciences. Teachers honored through this competition will be asked to designate the unit(s) and institution(s) to receive their awards as well as the purpose for which such funds will be used.
One regional recipient will be selected from each of the four regions when a candidate of sufficient quality has been nominated. The balance of Regional Awards will be awarded at-large among the four regions. Early Career Teacher recipients may be from any region. The Teaching and Student Engagement recipients may be from any region.
USDA is not committed to fund any particular application or to make a specific number of awards.