§1136a Masters Degree Programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Summary

The Secretary must give program grants, when money is available, to certain historically Black colleges and universities that are helping Black students get masters degrees in math, engineering, the physical or natural sciences, computer science, information technology, nursing, allied health, or other scientific fields where African Americans are underrepresented. The schools eligible are Albany State University; Alcorn State University; Claflin University; Coppin State University; Elizabeth City State University; Fayetteville State University; Fisk University; Fort Valley State University; Grambling State University; Kentucky State University; Mississippi Valley State University; Savannah State University; South Carolina State University; University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff; Virginia State University; West Virginia State University; Wilberforce University; and Winston-Salem State University. A “qualified masters degree program” is a masters program in those fields that has students enrolled when the school applies, though up to 10 percent of a grant can be used to start a new qualified program. No school can get more than one grant in the same year. Grants may last up to six years and can be renewed. Grants over $1,000,000 require the school to pay 50 percent of the project cost from non-federal sources, but the first $1,000,000 of an award does not need matching funds. Each eligible school must get at least $500,000 per year, subject to funding rules. Schools must apply and explain how funds will improve graduate chances for Black and low-income students and how they will pay any required match. Money can be used for lab and classroom equipment, buildings and renovations, library materials, scholarships and fellowships, development offices and endowments, financial education, student services, faculty development, management systems, buying nearby property for campus use, and other approved activities. If a school already gets certain other federal awards in the same year, it cannot get a grant under this program that year. When more than $9,000,000 is appropriated, extra funds are split by a formula that looks at matching ability, enrollment and graduation numbers, cost per student, and the program’s share of African American masters degrees. Grants awarded in 2009 cannot be cut below their 2009 amount in later years unless money is short or the school can’t meet matching rules.