$93 million in grants awarded to HBCUs, tribal schools, and MSIs from the White House
By Sheyla Fairley
Historically Black colleges & universities, tribal colleges & universities, and other minority-serving institutions will be awarded $93 million in grants for research and development from the U.S. Department of Education.
According to an article, the new grants will be provided “under the Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) and Postsecondary Student Success Grant (PSSG) programs” with the RDI program funding HBCUs, TCCUs, and MSIs to “transform their research infrastructure, including strengthening research productivity, faculty expertise, physical infrastructure, and partnerships leading to increases in external funding.”
“These grant awards will help many of our nation’s most inclusive and diverse colleges and universities expand their capacity to drive research and innovation, and propel more students to graduation day and fulfilling careers,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “This is how we Raise the Bar for college excellence and attainment in this country and close equity gaps in higher education that have no place in the 21st century.”
For more information, read the full article here.
Howard University receives $20M from co-owners of the Denver Broncos to support GRACE grant program
By Sheyla Fairley
Howard University, Washington, DC, received a $20 million donation from Carrie Walton Penner and Greg Penner, co-owners of the Denver Broncos, to support their GRACE Grant Endowed Fund.
As stated in a release, the GRACE (Graduation Retention Access to Continued Excellence) Grant program is “an initiative to eliminate college costs and keep first-year students enrolled through graduation.”
“I am extremely grateful to Carrie Walton Penner and Greg Penner for their support of Howard students through the GRACE Grant, which benefits our undergraduate students who face financial barriers to completing their studies on time,” said Howard University president Ben Vinson III, Ph.D. “Thanks to this generous contribution, we can expand our ability to offer this important resource and ensure that students most in need can fulfill their dreams of completing their education at Howard University.”
Student loan company Sallie Mae has joined forces with Delaware State University to study barriers to completing college
By Sheyla Fairley
According to an article, the Sallie Mae Fund has committed $1 million to Delaware State University, Dover, DE, to “study and identify barriers to degree completion, help students return to school and complete, and help advance policy recommendations and best practices to enhance student re-engagement.”
“We know the promise of a higher education comes from earning a degree, yet too often, underserved and underrepresented students face obstacles that cause them to stop-out or drop out altogether,” said Jon Witter, CEO of Sallie Mae. “Our mission-aligned partnership with DSU aims to remove barriers to degree completion so that more students have the resources they need to cross the finish line.”
Read the full article, here.
Fisk University to host historic gymnastics event on MLK Day
By Sheyla Fairley
On January 15th, 2024, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Fisk University, Nashville, TN, will host a historic gymnastics meet where the Fisk University Bulldogs will face off against five other teams led by all Black women coaches from Brown University, Providence, RI; Iowa State University, Ames, IA; Rutgers University in New Jersey; William & Mary University, Williamsburg, VA; and Talladega College, Talladega, AL.
“[This event] could have the potential just to have a ripple effect that a lot of other institutions that may have thought about it, now I think they’ll think about it a little bit more,” said Fisk Athletic Director Valencia Jordan in a release.
Tickets can be purchased through the Vanderbilt Athletics ticket page.
Big Apple Leadership Academy for the Arts to hold HBCU Audition Fair & Concrete Crankfest in New York City
By Sheyla Fairley
Big Apple Leadership Academy for the Arts, Inc. (BALAA), a youth-centered, nonprofit organization that set out to make a positive difference in the lives of New York City youth, will be holding New York City’s first HBCU Audition Fair & Concrete Crankfest from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm on February 19, 2024.
According to an article, the event offers “high school juniors and seniors a unique opportunity to meet with and audition for marching bands at multiple historically black colleges and universities” and will also feature “informational workshops for families that discuss the admissions process, financial aid, and student life.”
“This fair is a realization of so many of our goals as an organization,” said Dr. Jada K. John, executive director of BALAA. “Marching band scholarships represent a wonderful path to higher education for many students, so we thought it would be a great opportunity for the kids, as well as the schools, to bring everyone together for a day of music, learning, and fun.”
For more details, read the full article here.
