Justin Smith Morrill Scholars

F. Edwin Harvey, Director Welcome to the Justin Smith Morrill Scholars webpage!

Program Overview
Justin Smith Morrill authored the Morrill Act in 1862, establishing Land Grant universities across the nation. His vision and commitment provided the foundation for public higher education as we know it today. To honor his vision and his legacy, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources have developed a four-year program for high ability undergraduate students who are interested in interdisciplinary learning and activities, and in using the knowledge acquired during their time at university and throughout their lives following graduation to advance the public good through civic responsibility, engagement and leadership.

Morrill Scholars will be developed through a rich variety of learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. They will be encouraged to enroll in core content and methods courses in physical, life, social sciences and public policy, and ‘value-added’ content courses related to culture, ethics, arts, humanities, and/or foreign language that complement their undergraduate majors. They will also participate in a credit-bearing seminar on Morrill’s life and accomplishment and the history of the Land Grant University.

Outside of the classroom, and many times beyond the campus, Morrill Scholars will participate in regional, national or international field trips, experience public policy processes on local and national levels, discover knowledge through interdisciplinary research experiences, apply knowledge and skills either via rural community service learning or international rural community service learning opportunities, and complete research service learning projects and/or supervised internships that respond to community agency or community-based needs. Throughout the program, Morrill Scholars will meet with leaders involved in public service. For instance, Morrill Scholars will interact with members of the Ag Builders of Nebraska, CARET representative, members of the Nebraska State Unicameral, and Congressional Representatives and staff.

Morrill Scholars Learning Community
For those students interested in living and working in a learning community, the Morrill Scholars Program offers housing in Burr Hall on the East Campus. To learn more, visit the UNL Residential Learning Communities website.

Morrill Scholars On-Campus Organization
In spring 2007, the Justin Smith Morrill Scholars Organization was formed by the scholars to take advantage of the on-campus opportunities afforded to students through the UNL Association of Students - Student Government. This new organization will provide students with immediate leadership opportunities, a forum for interaction between the four Scholars classes, a venue for planning social activities such as the Snow Stomp Dance at the start of second semester each year, and an outlet to engage in community service activities. Club website coming soon.

Apply to the Scholars Program
We are very excited about the Justin Smith Morrill Scholars Program and value it will add to the undergraduate experience. If you are passionate about serving the greater societal good, recognize that true success is framed within the context of integrity and ethics, and are intellectually curious, we believe the Justin Smith Morrill Scholars Program is for you. To apply, please complete the online application. If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact Dr. Ed Harvey at feharvey1@unl.edu.

J.S. Morrill Biography

Justin S. Morrill (1810-1898) was the chief sponsor of the 1862 and 1890 Land-Grant Acts. These were the most important pieces of legislation for American higher education in the 19th century. For the first time, America's working class and minority citizens had the opportunity to pursue higher education.

Justin Morrill, born and raised in Strafford, Vermont, the son of a blacksmith, had to leave school at age 15. He desperately wanted to attend college, yet his family did not have the means to send him. This did not deter Justin's intellectual curiosity. He became self-educated in business, architecture, horticulture, and politics. He ran a general store in Strafford from 1831 to 1848, when he retired and took up farming. After a brief retirement he entered politics in 1854 and served in both the United States House of Representatives and Senate for nearly 44 years.

Morrill's 1862 Land-Grant Act, followed by the second Act in 1890, allocated the funds from the sale of federal lands to support new Land-Grant colleges and universities that taught agriculture, business, engineering, mechanics and home economics. Today the 105 Land-Grant colleges and universities have over 20 million graduates worldwide.

Related Links

• J.S. Morrill Homestead
• Vermont State Historic Sites
• J.S. Morrill Shrine Website
• First Morrill Act 1862
• Second Morrill Act 1890
• Purchase Morrill biography at Barnes&Noble.com
• Application

Contact Information
For information about the scholars program, or to apply, contact

F. Edwin Harvey, Director
603 Hardin Hall
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68583-0996
(402) 472-8237
feharvey1@unl.edu