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.
Albany State University, a historically Black institution in Georgia, has been awarded a $2.99 million grant from the National Science Foundation for the “Building a Community of STEM Practitioners” project. The program will investigate whether establishing a STEM hub at an HBCU can increase community, school district, and industry engagement toward improving STEM education in rural Georgia.
The College of Agriculture, Science and Technology at Delaware State University has received a $7 million grant from the National Institute of Health to establish the Center for Research and Education in Multiscale Bioengineering, Bioimaging, and Biosensing. The funding will be used to enhance the college’s research capacity and create a bachelor’s degree program in bioengineering at the HBCU. Additionally, Delaware State will partner with the University of Delaware and Rowan University in New Jersey to create a 3+2 dual bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in bioengineering program.
Paul Quinn College, an HBCU in Dallas, Texas, has received a $1.5 million grant from the T. D. Jakes Foundation and Wells Fargo to expand campus housing and improve local infrastructure. The funds will be used to develop student housing and classrooms, as well as retail stores, restaurants, parks, and outdoor meeting areas in the Highland Hills neighborhood. Additionally, the grant will fund the acquisition of tiny homes for local families in need.
The College of Education at Florida A&M University has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Florida Department of Education to address the state’s teacher shortage. The grant will connect local elementary schools with students studying elementary education at the HBCU, providing them with an apprenticeship program to prepare them for successful careers upon graduation.
Xavier University of Louisiana has received a $125,000 endowment from The FBR Foundation to establish The Fred Renwick Endowed Scholarship for PreMed Students. The scholarship will be awarded annually to junior and senior students enrolled in the HBCU’s premedical program to support their graduate school education and future careers in medicine.
