Federal Foundation Assistance Monitor

Funding Increases of $170 M Slated for Historically Black Colleges and Universities

 Historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) across the country will begin to receive record increases in new federal funding today, to be applied for the coming school year, lawmakers said.

The funding, part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act that was passed last year, will be dispersed in Education Dept. grants.

The law provides $170 million in new funding for HBCUs over the next two years to help expand college access, strengthen support services that focus on helping low-income and minority students stay in school and graduate, and renovate campuses in need of improvement. The grants provided under the law are mandatory funding, meaning schools will receive them in addition to any funding that is appropriated annually by the Congress. All 99 HBCUs that currently receive federal funds will benefit from this increase.

HBCUs play a significant role in helping African American students succeed in college and the workforce, lawmakers said. Although they represent only 3% of all colleges and universities, they enroll close to a third of all African-American students. Further, 40% of their students pursue four-year degrees in science, technology, engineering and math, and about half of all African-American students in teaching fields attend HBCUs, lawmakers said.

However, HBCUs and other minority-serving schools have not been a favorite of President Bush. In his most recent budget for FY 2009, Bush proposed cutting funding for HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions by $85 million, a 35% decrease from the previous year.

"As a graduate of the U. of Arkansas Pine Bluff, I and my brothers, sisters, nephews, cousins and friends know firsthand the opportunities provided by HBCUs, especially to low-income African American students," says Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), the co-chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Education Taskforce.

Info: http://edlabor.house.gov/micro/ccraa.shtml

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