The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Program is a discretionary grant program distributed on a mandated formula basis and authorized under Title III, Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) and the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007.

Program Requirements

Grantees are required to submit enrollment data that is used to calculate the amount of their award and submit a project plan that details a comprehensive development plan (CDP), which includes activities that may include:

• The purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for education purposes, including instructional and research purposes.
• Construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services.
• Academic instruction in disciplines in which Black Americans are underrepresented.
• The purchase of library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program materials.
• Establishing or enhancing a program of teacher education designed to qualify students to teach in a public elementary or secondary school in the state that shall include, as part of such program preparation for teacher certification.

Priority: Priority will be given to applicants who: (1) propose to carry out activities described above; and (2) other activities, consistent with the institution's comprehensive plan and designed to increase the institutions capacity to prepare students for careers in the physical or natural sciences, mathematics, computer science or information technology or sciences, engineering, language instruction in the less-commonly taught languages or international affairs, or nursing or allied health professions.

Period of Grant: Not to exceed two years.

Matching Requirement: There is no matching requirement.

Allotment of Funds: $85 million in funding will be allocated using the same formula described under Section 324. Ninety-six new (two-year) awards were made in FY 2008 and 96 non-competing continuation awards will be made in FY 2009.

Supplement Not Supplant Provision: Grant funds provided under this part shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal or state funds.

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