An Overview of the Title III Program
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Program is governed by the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended by the U.S. Congress in 1986. Federal grants awarded through this program may be used to carry out operational as well as developmental activities.The Title III Program has undergone many changes since the late sixties. Initially, the program was primarily available only to HBCUs. During the seventies, the program was expanded, and a large number of community/junior colleges and other undergraduate schools began to compete for these grants. Recently, legislation provided a set-aside fund for HBCU institutions.Each participating institution is expected to develop proposals for funding based upon planning priorities set forth in the institution's long-range plans. Conceptually, the supplemental funding provides a means to start up new programs or enhance or strengthen existing programs and services.The purpose of Title III financial assistance is to help eligible institutions of higher education solve problems that threaten their ability to survive and stabilize their management and fiscal operations so that they may achieve self-sufficiency. Since the beginning of fiscal year 1982, eligible institutions are able to apply for funding under the following three grant programs:
- The Strengthening ProgramThe Special Needs Program
- The Challenge Grant Program
Authorizing Legislation: Title III, Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Program Description: The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to establish or strengthen the physical plants, financial management, academic resources, and endowments of HBCUs. Since 1992, both the School of Law and Pharmacy have qualified for funding under the Historically Black Graduate Institution (HBGI) program. Funds may be used for these purposes:
- Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, instructional facilities, and research;
- Construction, maintenance, and renovation of instructional facilities;
- Faculty development and exchange;
- Academic instruction in disciplines where blacks are under-represented;
- Purchase of educational materials;
- Student services;
- Funds and administrative management and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening management; and
- Joint use of facilities.
Support is also provided to sixteen graduate HBCUs that are making a substantial contributions to the legal, medical, dental, veterinary, or other graduate educational opportunities of black Americans.
Eligibility: Any HBCU established prior to 1964 whose principal mission was and is the education of black Americans. The institution must be accredited.
The Title III, Part B Strengthen Program (HBCU) is a formula grant program, and eligibility is determined through statute and regulations. In general, eligible recipient are institutions that (1) serve substantial numbers of students from low income families; (2) lack sufficient resources for efficient services which provide adequate management, improve academic programs and student services, or upgrading the quality of their faculty members.
Both two-year and four-year public and non-profit private institutions of higher education are eligible for funding under all the programs. |
