AP: Gov't awards $228M in grants to black colleges
By Josh Lederman
WASHINGTON—The Education Department is awarding $228 million in grants to historically black colleges and universities.
More than $19 million of that money will go to Louisiana's HBCU schools, including $2.8 million destined for Southern University in Shreveport.
The 5-year grants will go to schools in 19 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Schools can use the money to expand their campuses, acquire science equipment, develop counseling programs and train faculty.
Louisiana's grants include:
$2 million to Dillard University in New Orleans
$3.4 million to Grambling State University
$5.3 million to Southern University & A&M College in Baton Rouge
$2.5 million to Southern University New Orleans
$2.8 million to Southern University Shreveport
$3.2 million to Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans
Sen. Mary Landrieu, as a member of an appropriations subcommittee dealing with education, says she specifically requested this funding in the fiscal 2012 appropriations bill.
"These grants help ensure that these institutions of higher learning continue providing a world-class education to their students who make strong contributions to our state," Landrieu says.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan says the grants will enable historically black colleges to help students who grapple with financial challenges as they pursue post-secondary education.
Most of the schools receiving grants are in the South.
The largest grants will go to Florida A&M University in Tallahassee; Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, La.; Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss.; and St. Philip's College in San Antonio. Those schools will receive more than $5 million each.
