The Trump administration is allocating more than $400 million in additional federal funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Grambling University President Dr. Martin Lemelle says that’s over and above the funding the schools received in the previous fiscal year, and part of that money would go towards the Title III program.
“Those programs help institutions like Grambling support development for student success initiatives, our technology capabilities, and a host of other services that ensure that we’re able to retain and graduate students,” Lemelle said.
Dr. Lemelle says part of that money would be used to upgrade facilities at the university.
“Everything from construction and maintenance and renovation for classrooms. For example, in our most recent title three funding, we’ve updated our classrooms in the College of Business with new technology, as well as enhanced infrastructure,” Lemelle said.
Lemelle says some of that money could also go towards ensuring students’ academic success.
“We’ve been able to do things to support academic instruction and tutoring and counseling and support services for students, so those students have the best opportunity to succeed,” Lemelle noted.
The schools haven’t decided how the money will be divided among them yet. The money for the HBCUs is being redirected from other grants, mostly from the government’s Hispanic-Serving Institution program, which offers grants to colleges and universities where at least a quarter of undergraduates are Hispanic.
