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.
North Carolina Central University, a historically Black educational institution, has received a $750,000 anonymous gift to launch a graduation assistance program. The funds will provide micro-grants to undergraduate seniors who have unpaid tuition and fees, ensuring they can graduate on time.
Historically Black Grambling State University in Louisiana has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to support the “Voices of Grambling: Scaling Digital Equity Projects” initiative. The program will focus on creating an immersive virtual-reality experience that overlays oral histories and primary sources onto a digital reconstruction of the 1967 campus protest at Grambling. The historic student protest advocated for improved living conditions and an expanded curriculum that featured African American history and culture.
The Cancer Research Center at historically Black Alabama State University has received a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop an affordable, non-invasive diagnostic tool for detecting early lung cancer. The project will also facilitate research opportunities for students interested in healthcare technology.
The College of Engineering and Technology at historically Black Virginia State University has received a $100,000 grant from Lockheed Martin to launch the STEP UP (Strengthening Talent, Enrollment, and Persistence through Undergraduate Research and Pre-College Program) initiative. The funds will support research opportunities for incoming freshman participating in the HBCU’s Summer Transition and Enrichment Program.
