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.
South Carolina State University recently received a $1.5 million TRIO Student Support Services (TRIO SSS) grant from the United States Department of Education. The federal program aims to improve college retention and graduation rates among underserved students through individualized tutoring, financial aid, scholarship, career guidance, counseling, and mentoring services. Currently, the university annually serves 160 federally eligible students through its TRIO SSS program.
Hampton University in Virginia has been awarded a $2 million federal grant to launch the HBCU’s Workforce Development Enterprise. The initiative will establish three workforce centers: the Community Health and Vocational Center, the Center for Culinary Arts and Business Networking, and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The programs offered at the new centers will provide hands-on training in several vocational fields, as well as small business and entrepreneurship development courses.
Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina has received a $300,000 grant from the National Aeronautic and Space Administration to study how astronauts could grow food in outer space. The project will allow both students and faculty in the HBCU’s Astrobotany Lab to explore how certain bacteria and fungi can release valuable nutrients trapped in lunar soil, known as regolith, to help grow crops in space through controlled hydroponic systems.
University in Alabama has received a gift from the Macon County Racing Commission to support student scholarships and the university’s general fund. Established by the Alabama Legislature in 1983, the commission was created in tandem with the Victoryland Greyhound Park. Through this legislation, portions of the park’s proceeds are directed to support education and community programs facilitated by 14 local agencies, including Tuskegee.
Fayetteville State University in North Carolina was awarded a $393,641 grant from the National Science Foundation to create new student research opportunities in genetic engineering and computer-based biology. The new funding will support the integration of research projects directly into biology courses, providing students with opportunities to work with advanced tools in DNA sequencing, gene editing, gene cloning, immunochemistry, and computer-based modeling.
