Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.
Georgia State University and Spelman College in Atlanta are sharing a three-year, $250,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to develop digital and physical archives to highlight Black women religious leaders’ contributions to religious communities and activism in the United States. Monique Moultrie, associate professor of religious studies at Georgia State University, and Rosetta Ross, professor of religious studies at Spelman College, are co-principal investigators on the grant project.
Prairie View A&M University, the historically Black educational institution in Texas, received a five-year, $5 million grant from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. The university’s “Smart Eating Active Living” (SEAL) project will work to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, will choose healthier food options within a limited budget and commit to physically active lifestyles.
Historically Black Clark Atlanta University received a $200,000 grant from Georgia Power and Microsoft to fund the Makerspace and Advanced Manufacturing Lab. The lab will give entrepreneurial undergraduate students the opportunity to expand their knowledge, skill set, and market competitiveness in renewable energy. Clark Atlanta students will build an advanced solar-powered generator that will serve as a back-up energy source for the campus.
Historically Black Fort Valley State University in Georgia received a $2.5 million contribution from an anonymous donor. The gift is the largest single contribution in school history. The donation will support the university’s Finish Line initiative, a scholarship program that assists students who are unable to finish their degree programs due to financial need. The university plans to use the historic donation to provide scholarships to more than 500 students across the next three years. The Finish Line scholarship funds typically target juniors and seniors majoring in fields related to agriculture, food science, engineering, computer science, healthcare, and business. However, the university has plans to expand the scholarship to include a focus on non-traditional students and students who demonstrate exceptional student engagement and leadership.
