For over 180 years, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have played a vital role in preparing students to be successful contributors to American Society. The Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, known as Title III, is funded under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). Title III is designed to provide financial assistance to HBCUs and to assist these institutions in establishing and strengthening their physical plants, academic resources, fiscal management, and endowments, in order to help these vital institutions continue to fulfill the goal of educational opportunity equality. In addition, Title III assists institutions like Cheyney in funding developmental activities that support our mission and vision.

Today, approximately 106 HBCUs and their countless students are benefitting from Title III. Funds from this program are based upon the number of Pell Grant recipients at the institution; the number of bachelor degree recipients from the institution; and the number of students who graduated from the institution and have been admitted to and are attending a graduate or professional school.

Cheyney receives federal funding for its undergraduate programs from two Title III funding streams:

Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program – Part B

This program provides financial assistance to establish or strengthen physical plants, financial management, academic resources, and endowment-building capacity. Activities may include:

• Student services; educational equipment acquisition; facility renovation and construction; faculty and staff development;
• The establishment of a program of teacher education designed to qualify students to teach in public schools; the establishment of community outreach programs that will encourage elementary and secondary school students to develop the academic skills and the interest to pursue postsecondary education;
• The acquisition of real property in connection with the construction, renovation, or addition to or improvement of campus facilities; education or financial information designed to improve the financial literacy and economic literacy of students;
• Families, especially with regard to student indebtedness and student assistance programs under Title IV; and
• Services necessary for the implementation of projects or activities that are described in the grant application and that are approved, in advance, by the Department (not more than two percent of the grant amount may be used for this purpose).

FUTURE

Title III, Part F FUTURE – Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education Act amends the Higher Education Act (HEA) to permanently authorize mandatory funding for grant programs to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions. This funding permanently restores support formerly appropriated through the Student Aid Financial Reduction Act (SAFRA) that expired in 2019.  The FUTURE Act authorizes approximately $255 in annual mandatory funding for minority serving institutions, and also streamlines both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the process borrowers use to repay income-driven student loans beginning in “fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year thereafter.”  https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED607154.pdf

*When awarded funds are not obligated and/or spent timely in accordance to grant specifications, the Department of Education may, with prior notification to grant recipients, reduce subsequent funding amounts in line with the University’s demonstrated funds usage. Site visits may be made by representatives of the Department of Education to review and monitor program accomplishments and provide technical assistance as deemed necessary.