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.
An anonymous donor has gifted $20 million to historically Black Tuskegee University in Alabama. The funds will go towards establishing endowed faculty leadership positions, creating endowed scholarships, enhancing student affairs and campus security staffing, developing STEM and research programs, and fulfilling a United Negro College Fund pooled endowment fund match.
Historically Black Morehouse College in Atlanta has received a $1.6 million grant from federal Community Project Funds to expand the Higher Education Prisons Program, housed in the college’s Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership. The funds will support more classes for incarcerated students and provide greater opportunities for engagement with Morehouse College students and faculty.
A team of researchers including Dr. Emran Ali from historically Black Alcorn State University in Mississippi has received a $6 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Speciality Crop Initiative. The four-year project will focus on lessening the risks posed by common vegetable pests. Other participating institutions are New Mexico State University, the University of Illinois, the University of Florida, the University of Arizona, Texas A&M University, and Rutgers University.
Elizabeth City State University, a historically Black university in North Carolina, has received a $500,000 grant to support the university’s Aviation Workforce Development Program, which aims to prepare high school students for careers in aviation. The new funds will support an expanded curriculum and professional development opportunities for teachers.
Historically Black Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has received a $1.5 million grant from the state to fund energy efficiency improvements on campus. The funds will support updates to the John B. Cade Library and the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
Historically Black Prairie View A&M University in Texas has received a Responsible Computing Challenge award from the Mozilla Foundation. The grant will support a new program that will train students in interdisciplinary methodologies centered in computing to address social issues affecting rural communities.
