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Title III Part B, Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions Program

Grant Type
Discretionary grant
Office
Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE)
ALN
84.031K
Contact
bernadette.miles@ed.gov
202-453-7892
Eligibility
Individual
Application Deadline
Application Status
Not Applicable
Ready to apply?
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Program Office: Institutional Service
CFDA Number: 84.031K
Program Type: Discretionary Grants
Also Known As: HBCUs and HBGIs

Program Description

The Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGI) Program provides grants to assist institutions in establishing and strengthening their physical plants, development offices, endowment funds, academic resources and student services so that they may continue to participate in fulfilling the goal of equality of educational opportunity in graduate education. Subject to the availability of funds, the Secretary shall award program grants to institutions determined by the Secretary to be making a substantial contribution to the legal, medical, dental, veterinary, or other graduate education opportunities in mathematics, engineering, or the physical or natural sciences for Black Americans.

Types of Projects

Funds may be used for the purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment. Also supported are the construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement of instruction facilities. Funds support faculty exchanges and the development of academic instruction in disciplines in which black Americans are underrepresented. Projects may support the purchase of library materials as well as tutoring, counseling, and student service programs. Also supported are: funds and administrative management; joint use of facilities; establishment or improvement of development offices; establishment or enhancement of programs of teacher education; establishment of outreach programs; and other activities that a grantee proposes in its application that contribute to carrying out the purposes of the program and are approved by the Secretary as part of the review and acceptance of the grant application.

Additional Information

The Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions Program provides grants to the institutions listed under Eligibility to assist these institutions in establishing and strengthening their endowment funds, academic resources and student services so that they may continue to participate in fulfilling the goal of equality of educational opportunity in graduate education.

Funds may be used for the:

  1. purchase, rental or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;
  2. construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services;
  3. purchase of library books, periodicals, technical and other scientific journals, microfilm, microfiche, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program materials;
  4. scholarships, fellowships, and other financial assistance for needy graduate and professional students to permit the enrollment of the students in and completion of the doctoral degree in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, law, and the doctorate degree in the physical or natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, or other scientific disciplines in which African Americans are underrepresented;
  5. establishing or improving a development office to strengthen and increase contributions from alumni and the private sector;
  6. assisting in the establishment or maintenance of an institutional endowment to facilitate financial independence pursuant to section 326 of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 as amended;
  7. funds and administrative management, and the acquisition of equipment, including software, for use in strengthening funds management and management information systems;
  8. acquisition of real property that is adjacent to the campus in connection with the construction, renovation, or addition to or improvement of campus facilities;
  9. education or financial information designed to improve the financial literacy and economic literacy of students or the students' families, especially with regard to student indebtedness and student assistance programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 as amended;
  10. services necessary for the implementation of projects or activities that are described in the grant application and that are approved, in advance, by the Secretary, except that not more than two percent of the grant amount may be used for this purpose;
  11. tutoring, counseling, and student service programs designed to improve academic success; and
  12. other activities proposed in the application submitted under subsection (d) that—
    1. contribute to carrying out the purposes of this part; and
    2. are approved by the Secretary as part of the review and acceptance of such application.

(1) In General - Independent professional or graduate institutions and programs eligible for grants under subsection (a) of the legislation are the following:

  1. Morehouse School of Medicine;
  2. Meharry Medical School;
  3. Charles R. Drew Post-Graduate Medical School;
  4. Clark-Atlanta University;
  5. Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine and other qualified graduate programs;
  6. Xavier University School of Pharmacy and other qualified graduate programs;
  7. Southern University School of Law and other qualified graduate programs;
  8. Texas Southern University School of Law and School of Pharmacy and other qualified graduate programs;
  9. Florida A&M University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and other qualified graduate programs;
  10. North Carolina Central University School of Law and other qualified graduate programs;
  11. Morgan State University's qualified graduate program;
  12. Hampton University's qualified graduate program;
  13. Alabama A&M's qualified graduate program;
  14. North Carolina A&T State University's qualified graduate program;
  15. University of Maryland/Eastern Shore's qualified graduate program;
  16. Jackson State University's qualified graduate program;
  17. Norfolk State University's qualified graduate program;
  18. Tennessee State University's qualified graduate program;
  19. Alabama State University qualified graduate pro­grams;
  20. Prairie View A&M University qualified graduate programs;
  21. Delaware State University qualified graduate pro­grams;
  22. Langston University qualified graduate programs;
  23. Bowie State University qualified graduate programs; and
  24. University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law

(2) Qualified Graduate Program -

  1. For the purposes of this section, the term "qualified graduate program" means a graduate or professional program that provides a program of instruction in law or in the physical or natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, psychometrics, or other scientific discipline in which African Americans are underrepresented and has students enrolled in such program at the time of application for a grant under this section.
  2. Notwithstanding the enrollment requirement contained in subparagraph (A), an institution may use an amount equal to not more than 10 percent of the institution's grant under this section for the development of a new qualified graduate program.

(3) Special Rule - Institutions that were awarded grants under this section prior to October 1, 2008, shall continue to receive such grants, subject to the availability of appropriated funds, regardless of the eligibility of the institutions described in subparagraphs (S) through (X) of paragraph (1).

(4) One Grant Per Institution - The Secretary shall not award more than one grant under this section in any fiscal year to any institution of higher education or university system.

(5) Institutional Choice - The president or chancellor of the institution may decide which graduate or professional school or qualified graduate program will receive funds under the grant in any one fiscal year, if the allocation of funds among the schools or programs is delineated in the application for funds submitted to the Secretary under this section.  

Review Process

Institutions designated as HBGIs must submit an application. Funds are allocated based on a statutory formula. HBGIs that are eligible for grants are specified in the program's authorizing statute.

For any questions, please contact the program office.

Institutional Service Home

Program Map of Participating Institutions
Prior-Year Awards

FY 2024

  • List of grantees: PDF (14K)

FY 2023

FY 2022

FY 2021

FY 2020

FY 2019

FY 2018

FY 2017

FY 2016

FY 2015

FY 2014

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Institutional Service Home

FY 2024

Total Award Funding: $101,286,000
Number of New Awards: 24
Average New Award: $4,220,250
Total New Award Funding: $101,286,000
Number of Continuation Awards: 0
Average Continuation Award: $0
Total Continuation Award Funding: $0
Total Award Funding: $101,286,000
Total Number of Awards: 24
 

FY 2023

Total Award Funding: $100,782,000
Number of New Awards: 0 
Average New Award: 0 
Total New Award Funding: 0 
Number of Continuation Awards: 24 
Average Continuation Award: $4,199,250 
Total Continuation Award Funding: $100,782,000 
Total Award Funding: $100,782,000 
Total Number of Awards: 24

FY 2022

Total Award Funding: $93,129,000
Number of New Awards: 0 
Average New Award: 0 
Total New Award Funding: 0 
Number of Continuation Awards: 24 
Average Continuation Award: $3,880,375 
Total Continuation Award Funding: $93,129,000 
Total Award Funding: $93,129,000 
Total Number of Awards: 24

FY 2021

Total Award Funding: $87,313,000 
Number of New Awards: 0 
Average New Award: 0 
Total New Award Funding: 0 
Number of Continuation Awards: 24 
Average Continuation Award: $3,638,042 
Total Continuation Award Funding: $87,313,000 
Total Award Funding: $87,313,000 
Total Number of Awards: 24

FY 2020

Total Award Funding: $83,995,000
Number of New Awards: 0
Average New Award: 0
Total New Award Funding: 0
Number of Continuation Awards: 24
Average Continuation Award: $3,499,792
Total Continuation Award Funding: $83,995,000
Total Award Funding: $83,995,000
Total Number of Awards: 24

FY 2019

Total Award Funding: $73,037,000
Number of New Awards: 24
Average New Award: $3,043,208
Total New Award Funding: $73,037,000
Number of Continuation Awards: 0
Average Continuation Award: $0
Total Continuation Award Funding: $0
Total Award Funding: $73,037,000
Total Number of Awards: 24

FY 2018

Total Award Funding: $72,314,000
Number of New Awards: 0
Average New Award: 0
Total New Award Funding: 0
Number of Continuation Awards: 24
Average Continuation Award: $3,013,083
Total Continuation Award Funding: $72,314,000
Total Award Funding: $72,314,000
Total Number of Awards: 24

FY 2017

Total Award Funding: $63,281,000
Number of New Awards: 0
Average New Award: 0
Total New Award Funding: 0
Number of Continuation Awards: 24
Average Continuation Award: $2,636,708
Total Continuation Award Funding: $63,281,000
Total Award Funding: $63,281,000
Total Number of Awards: 24

FY 2016

Total Award Funding: $63,281,000

FY 2015

Total Award Funding: $58,840,000

FY 2014

In FY 2014, the appropriation for this program is $57,872,000, of which $56, 903,225 is available for 18 new awards to the original 18 statutorily-designated institutions. The funds will be distributed to the original 18 institutions mandated under section 326(e) of the Higher Education Act. The increase in this year's appropriation of $1,997,518 will not only allow the original 18 statutorily — designated institutions to receive funding at their FY 2008 levels but the remaining $968,775 will allow the six institutions added by section 311(c)(1)(D) of the Higher Education Opportunity Act to receive funding in FY 2014 as well. The remaining balance of $968,775 will be divided evenly to fund the remaining six institutions.

Number of New Awards: 24
Average New Award: $2,370,967
Total New Award Funding: $57,872,000
Number of Continuation Awards: 0
Average Continuation Award: 0
Total Continuation Award Funding: $0
Total Award Funding: $57,872,000
Total Number of Awards: 24

FY 2013

Number of New Awards: 0
Average New Award: 0
Total New Award Funding: 0
Number of Continuation Awards: 24
Average Continuation Award: $2,382,103
Total Continuation Award Funding: $55,874,482
Total Award Funding: $55,874,482
Total Number of Awards: 24

FY 2012

Number of New Awards: 0
Average New Award: 0
Total New Award Funding: 0
Number of Continuation Awards: 24
Average Continuation Award: $2,456,598
Total Continuation Award Funding: $58,958,358
Total Award Funding: $58,958,358
Total Number of Awards: 24

FY 2011

Number of New Awards: 0
Average New Award: 0
Total New Award Funding: 0
Number of Continuation Awards: 24
Average Continuation Award: $2,554,256
Total Continuation Award Funding: $61,302,150
Total Award Funding: $61,302,150
Total Number of Awards: 24

Note: This is a noncompetitive discretionary grant program -- grants are distributed by formula to eligible institutions.

Title III, Part B of the Higher Education Act also includes the Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program.

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Legislation

  • Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended; Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Title III, Part B, Section 326 (20 U.S.C. 1063B)

Regulations

 

Annual Performance Report

Grantees are required to submit an Annual Performance Report (APR) annually; the collection number is OMB 1840-0766. The APR is available to grantees October 1 of each calendar year, and closes 90 days thereafter. To review the reporting requirement for Title III and Title V Programs request access to an interactive training site under the training tab located on Institutional Services' Information Management Performance System Portal at https://apr.ed.gov. Once here you may select the requirements for each Title III and Title V program based on the institutional type (two-year or four-year). This site is also available to grantees for training purposes and includes an APR user's manual.

To gain access to the APR at https://apr.ed.gov, project directors need the institution's Unit ID, PR Award ID, and a unique password provided by the Institutional Service. Passwords are e-mailed to all grantee project directors designated on the grant award notification document 30 days before the collection period begins. Project directors of Title III and Title V grants are responsible for completing and managing the content of their respective annual report. During the data collection, assistance is available via a Help Desk to answer questions related to system operations, error messages, technical problems, report content, and program policy.

Note: If you are a project director and have responsibility for completing the annual report for your institution, please be sure you are designated on the official grant award notification and your e-mail and telephone number are listed correctly in the G5 database.

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Final Performance Report

The online system will generate a final report from grantees' individual annual reports for each grant ending September 30 of the collection period. The online system generates the final performance so that reported data is consistent throughout the life cycle of grants and eliminates each grantee's burden of having to compile a final report.

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Institutional Service Home

Related HBCU Sites

OPE Programs

Organizations

Other Resources

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Key Staff

Division Director: Vicki Robinson, Ed.D., 202-453-7907

Program Officers:

Program Lead: Bernadette Miles, MBA, 202-453-7892 (Assigned States: ALL)

Mailing Address:
U.S. Department of Education, OPE
Higher Education Programs, Institutional Service
Title III Part B, Strengthening HBGI Program
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Mail Stop: LBJ-HEP-2C206
Washington, DC 20202

Email: hbgi.phaseii@ed.gov

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Frequently Asked Questions

  Select a link below to jump to the relevant page section.
  1. Where can I get general guidance and resource material about this program and the grantmaking process?
  2. When is my Phase I/II Data due?
  3. Why did my grant award amount change from the last budget period?
  4. What changes am I able to make to my project and/or budget without prior ED approval?
  5. When I have to request project and/or budget changes that require prior approval from ED, how should I submit those changes? How does ED decide to approve or disapprove my request?
  6. I have unspent and unobligated funds from a previous fiscal year. Can I carry them over into the current budget period and use them on an activity?
  7. What is a Legislatively Allowable Activity (LAA)?
  8. What are the guidelines for drawing down funds for upcoming costs?
  9. Must our institution conduct an audit of our project every year?
  10. How and when do I complete the Annual Performance Report (APR)?
  11. What is the matching funds requirement for endowments? When must the matching funds be raised?
  12. What kinds of records do I need to keep?
  13. Whom do I contact if I have a problem with the G5 system?
  14. Where can I find the most up to date copy of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)?
  15. Where can I find the most recent edition of EDGAR?
  16. Where can I find form-fillable editions of standard ED Grant Application and Reporting Forms?


1. Where can I get general guidance and resource material about this program and the grantmaking process?
 

The questions and answers presented here are provided as a resource to our grantees, but are not intended to replace communication with your Department of Education (ED) program officer. Please continue to contact your program officer with specific questions about your grant awards.

Project directors and/or other grant personnel who are new to the grantmaking process should review the Grantmaking at ED publication, which is a non-technical summary of ED's discretionary grants process (application, review, award, administration, grant closeout, and audit) and the laws and regulations that govern the process.

In addition, online grants management training and resources for project directors are available at: http://e-grants.ed.gov/training/GMT0101000.htm.

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2. When is my Phase I/II Data due?
 

Deadlines change annually but your Program Officer will always contact you with the correct information for the current year.

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3. Why did my grant award amount change from the last budget period?
 

Award amounts are based on many factors including the size of the Congressional appropriation and student enrollment data (known as Phase I Data) from all 96 accredited HBCUs. The student enrollment data applies to each individual institution and consists of the number of Pell Grant recipients during the school year immediately preceding the current fiscal year, the number of graduates during the school year immediately preceding the current fiscal year, and the number percentage of graduates who within five years of graduating are in attendance at graduate or professional schools. Because award amounts are calculated using this data set any variable change, at any institution, can affect the award amount.

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4. What changes am I able to make to my project and/or budget without prior ED approval?
 

Grantees are allowed a certain degree of flexibility to make post-award changes and budget revisions without prior approval. Section 74 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) generally permits grantees to undertake the following administrative actions without seeking approval from their program office. Usually the program office requires the grantee to provide a notification of the change, including supporting justification:

  • Obligate funds for up to 90 days before the start date of the grant's performance period (EDGAR 74.25(e)(1))
  • Extend the project period one time at the end of the grant for a period of up to 12 months (EDGAR 74.25(e)(2))
  • Carry funds over from one budget period to the next (EDGAR 74.25(e)(3))
  • Transfer funds among budget line items (EDGAR 74.25(f))

If the change you wish to make is beyond these allowable administrative actions, you must contact ED for prior approval. Grantees are urged to review the sections in EDGAR relating to the type of change they wish to make.

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5. When I have to request project and/or budget changes that require prior approval from ED, how should I submit those changes? How does ED decide to approve or disapprove my request?
 

Proposed project and/or budget changes must be submitted in writing to your ED Program Officer. The proposal should include the following documents:

  • Cover Letter providing overview of proposed changes and why they are necessary to the success of the project
  • Revised Activity Narrative (if applicable)
  • Revised Budget Summary (if applicable)
  • Revised Individual Activity Budget Form (if applicable)
  • Revised Activity Objectives and Anticipated Results (if applicable)
  • Revised Implementation Strategy/Timetable Form (if applicable)
  • Curriculum Vitae or Resume of New Project Director and/or Activity Director (if applicable)

Upon receipt of the written request, the program staff may contact grantees directly for clarification or additional information as needed.

All submitted requests for programmatic and/or budget changes are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The decision to approve or disapprove a request is based on requirements imposed by applicable Federal statutes, including the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), program legislation and regulations, EDGAR, and OMB circulars. All resulting costs and activities related to approved changes must be allowable. No official may authorize any administrative actions that conflict with any applicable Federal statute, program legislation or regulation, EDGAR, grant conditions; or permit changes that would alter the scope or objectives of a competitive discretionary grant.

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6. I have unspent and unobligated funds from a previous fiscal year. Can I carry them over into the current budget period and use them on an activity?
 

Section 74.25(e)(3) of EDGAR states that, "(e) Except for requirements listed in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(4) of this section, the Secretary may waive cost-related and administrative prior written approvals required by this part and OMB Circulars A-21 and A-122. These waivers may authorize recipients to do any one or more of the following: (3) Carry forward unobligated balances to subsequent funding years." Based on this regulation, you may carry-over funds however they can only be spent on approved activities listed in your application or other legislatively allowable activities.

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7. What is a Legislatively Allowable Activity (LAA)?
 

The legislatively allowable activities for Title III Part B programs are listed in the Section 323 of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) as amended, as well as OMB Circular A-21 and the 34 CFR Section 608.10. If you are uncertain whether proposed activity is legislatively allowable or not you should always contact your assigned Program Officer to inquire. They will issue a written response with a determination.

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8. What are the guidelines for drawing down funds for upcoming costs?
 

You are urged to read 74.22 of EDGAR to learn more about Federal requirements related to grant payments. For any cash that you draw from your Department of Education grant account, you must:

  • Draw down only as much cash as is necessary to meet the immediate needs of the grant project
  • Keep to the minimum the time between drawing down the funds and paying them out for grant activities
  • Return to the Government the interest earned on grant funds deposited in interest-bearing bank accounts (except for a small amount of interest earned each year that your entity is allowed to keep to reimburse itself for administrative expenses)

In order to meet these requirements, you are urged to:

  • Take into account the need to coordinate the timing of drawdowns with prior internal clearances (e.g., by boards, directors, or other officials) when projecting immediate cash needs so that funds drawndown from ED do not stay in a bank account for extended periods of time while waiting for approval
  • Monitor the fiscal activity (drawdowns and payments) under your grant on a continuous basis
  • Plan carefully for cash flow in your grant project during the budget period and review project cash requirements before each drawdown
  • Pay out grant funds for project activities as soon as it is practical to do so after receiving cash from the Department

Keep in mind that the Department monitors cash drawdown activity for all grants on a weekly basis. Department staff will contact grantees who appear to have drawn down excessive amounts of cash under one or more grants during the fiscal quarter to discuss the particular situation. Grantees that fail to follow Federal cash management requirements may be designated as high-risk, which may affect future funding.

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9. Must our institution conduct an audit of our project every year?
 

Grantees that spend $500,000 or more in combined Federal funds (regardless of agency) during fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003, or $300,000 or more in Federal funds during fiscal years ended on December 31, 2003 or earlier, are required to have an annual institutional audit. Generally, these audits, referred to as "A-133 audits" or "single audits," review expenditures of Federal funds across an entire organization instead of specific costs of individual grants. These audits must be conducted in accordance with "Standards for the Audit of Governmental Organizations, Programs, Activities and Functions," published by the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Independent Non-Federal auditors selected by the grantee may perform these audits. Grantees that fail to meet the A-133 audit requirement may be designated as high-risk, which may affect future funding.

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10. How and when do I complete the Annual Performance Report (APR)?
 

Annual Performance Reports can be completed online at https://apr.ed.gov and are typically due 90 days after the performance period ends (September 30th); however, your Program Officer will notify you if the submission deadline changes. Grantees compiling an annual report for the first time can review last year's requirement on the APR Web site by requesting a "guest ID" and logging into the training sites (link provided on main APR page).

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11. What is the matching funds requirement for endowments? When must the matching funds be raised?
 

According to the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) as amended, grant funds used for endowments must be matched in equal or greater amounts with funds from non-Federal sources. In addition, no more than 20 percent of an annual grant award can be used to establish or increase an endowment fund at the institution.

If a grantee institution decides to use any of its grant funds for endowment purposes, it must match those grant funds immediately with non-Federal funds when it places those funds into its endowment fund.

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12. What kinds of records do I need to keep?
 

You must keep records regarding the use of grant funds, compliance with program requirements, and the date the project used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the project in meeting the grant's objectives. Keep your copy of the approved application. The financial records must show the amount and source of all funds spent on the grant, including any matching funds that were promised in the approved application. The records must document how all federal and matching funds were used. You must also keep records that document other types of information you provided the Department in your annual or final reports, such as records of program participants and the source data used to report on performance measures.

If you purchase equipment with grant funds, you must maintain inventory records until the equipment is no longer needed to meet the project objectives, and then you should request disposition instructions from the Department. Keep copies of all correspondence with the Department regarding the project; GEPA (20 U.S.C. 31) and EDGAR regulations (34 CFR 75.730-732) provide specific requirements for record retention. You may need these records to demonstrate to program monitors or auditors that all expenditures and activities you conducted with the grant were allowable and accurately reported.

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13. Whom do I contact if I have a problem with the G5 system?
 

Help with G5 is available through e-mail or by calling the G5 hotline.

Hours of Operation: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday-Friday, EST
Toll Free: (888) 336-8930
TTY: (866) 697-2696
Local: (202) 401-6238
E-mail: edcaps.user@ed.gov

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14. Where can I find the most up to date copy of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)?
 

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) can be accessed at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr.

Hard copies of the CFR are often available in the reference section of major libraries. For information about purchasing the CFR, go to the GPO online bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov or call the Superintendent of Documents at (202) 512-1800 or toll free at (866) 512-1800.

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15. Where can I find the most recent edition of EDGAR?
 

A PDF version of EDGAR is available for download and printing at http://www.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarReg/edgar.html.

The most recent regulations that comprise EDGAR can also be found in the Code of Federal Regulations. Please note that EDGAR comprises only Parts 74-99.

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16. Where can I find form-fillable editions of standard ED Grant Application and Reporting Forms?
 

Electronic versions of ED Grant Application and other Forms are available at http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.

Institutional Service Home

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