Hagan announces grant designed to strengthen HBCUs

Hannah Smith/Sen. Kay Hagan
October 02, 2012

Washington, DC – After leading a bipartisan resolution designating September 24 – 28 as &quotNational Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week,&quot U.S. Senator Kay Hagan announced that Elizabeth City State University has been awarded a $3,474,658 grant as part of the Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Program. Elizabeth City State University will use the grant to strengthen its academic resources, financial management systems, endowment-building capacity, and physical plants. &quotAn investment in education is an investment in our economy, and North Carolina’s HBCUs play a crucial role in educating our students and preparing them to enter the workforce,&quot Hagan said. I’m pleased that these grants will help improve the affordability and quality of education at Elizabeth City State University.&quot In total, North Carolina’s ten HBCUs will receive more than $28 million through the program. The five-year grants will promote activities such as curriculum reform counseling and student service programs establishing teacher education programs designed to qualify students to teach acquiring real-estate property in connection with construction, renovations, or additions that may improve campus facilities and funding faculty and staff development. In addition, funds may be used for the purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment and the development of academic instruction in disciplines in which African Americans are underrepresented. For more information, please visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iduestitle3b/index.html North Carolina HBCUs will receive the following amounts:

• Bennett College – $1,457,849
• Elizabeth City State University – $3,474,658
• Fayetteville State University – $3,842,872
• Johnson C. Smith University – $1,886,314
• Livingstone College – $1,476,226
• North Carolina A&ampT State University – $5,246,940
• North Carolina Central University – $4,090,693
• St. Augustine’s University – $1,638,519
• Shaw University – $2,467,589
• Winston-Salem State University – $4,375,966

BACKGROUND ON HAGAN’S WORK SUPPORTING HBCUs Hagan led the Senate in passing a bipartisan resolution designating the week – September 24 through September 28 – as &quotNational Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.&quot Hagan was joined by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), 10 Democrats and 12 Republicans in supporting the resolution recognizing the 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) around the country. For each of the last three years, Hagan and Graham have led the bipartisan HBCU week resolution in the Senate. The resolution states that HBCUs &quothave a rich heritage and have played a prominent role in the history of the United States&quot and &quotallow talented and diverse students, many of whom represent under-served populations, to attain their full potential through higher education.&quot Additionally, Hagan has supported key investments in HBCUs and Minority-Serving Institutions to renew, reform and expand programming to ensure that students have the support they need to stay in school and graduate.