Cisco Sysystems Inc, the networking systems giant based in San Jose, California, has announced $150 million in support of the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities and the students who attend these institutions.
In partnership with the Student Freedom Initiative, Cisco is helping to establish the Access to Education Endowment. Starting with a $50 million anchor investment from Cisco, the Student Freedom Initiative is hoping to reach its goal of $450 million. When funded, this endowment will support 4,500 HBCU students in perpetuity. Initially, the endowment will be available to students in Fall 2021 at nine HBCUs: Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Morehouse College, Prairie View A&M University, Tougaloo College, Tuskegee University, and Xavier University of Louisiana.
In addition, Cisco, in partnership with Computex Technology Solutions, is providing $100 million in hardware, software, and services to modernize the technology infrastructure at HBCUs. Computex Technology Solutions is donating installation services.
Maria Martinez, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Cisco, stated that “through the HBCU investments made today, we are giving the African American/Black community the tools to be resilient and successful long-term. With the benefits created by these investment funds, students can be successful for many years to come. It’s a gesture that reinforces our ongoing commitment to this community — to be seen, heard, valued, and invested in as we work to help build a more inclusive society and future for all.”
Here comes “Johnny Come Lately” Cisco with their perfect tax write off around tax filing deadlines. I wonder how money HBCUs have spent on Cisco products over the past ten years? Unfortunately, entirely too many so-called HBCU misleaders will be in a state of euphoria with this “drop in the bucket” donation.