fayobserver.com May 13, 2014 Sen. Hagan proposes grant program to spur innovation at HBCUs By Catherine Pritchard Staff writer Sen. Kay Hagan is proposing a grant program to fund innovative initiatives to help students at historically black colleges and universities. Hagan, a Democrat from North Carolina, announced the proposal today after chairing a hearing on Minority Serving Institutions. D. Jason DeSousa, assistant vice chancellor of student retention at Fayetteville State University, was one of the witnesses testifying at the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee hearing. FSU is one of 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in North Carolina and one of 47 in the nation. Hagan said her proposal would authorize a competitive grant program for the development of new and better methods of addressing specific needs of students at HBCUs. She said those needs could include improving student achievement, enhancing student retention and completion, increasing student enrollment in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and expanding the use of technology. "This gives the HBCUs the opportunity to collaborate with students, faculty and communities to enhance the learning experience and to better prepare students for the work force," Hagan said in an interview. "These grants will allow them to dream big." The program would set up two types of grants - a one-year grant for planning and a five-year grant to implement those plans. Grant recipients would be required to match 15 percent of the total amount, set measurable goals and to make satisfactory progress within three years, or lose the remaining two years of funding of the implementation grant. The grant program's priorities would be increasing the number of black males who attain college degrees; building partnerships between HBCUs and local high schools to increase minority enrollment in and graduation from colleges or universities; strengthening partnerships between HBCUs and partner institutions to support entrepreneurship and research; and support of student learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. A release from Hagan's office said HCBUs produce 17 percent of all African-American bachelor degree recipients, 50 percent of all African-American teachers and 24 percent of all African-American Ph.D recipients. At the same time, the release said, these schools have been disproportionately affected by the economic downturn and budget constraints. Hagan said strategic investment is needed to help the schools produce the next generation of highly skilled graduates. In DeSousa's testimony, he said black male achievement is a nationally recognized crisis. He talked about an FSU program called Male Initiative on Leadership & Excellence, or MILE, that's aimed at increasing success rates of black male students. Among other things, MILE seeks to give students new perspectives on available and attainable career options. Hagan said DeSousa talked about one trip with MILE students to Wall Street. One of those students came home so motivated, his grades went from mediocre to excellent, Hagan said. Others testifying today included Marybeth Gasman, professor of higher education and director of the Center for Minority-Serving Institutions at the University of Pennsylvania; Michael L. Lomax, president and chief executive officer of the United Negro College Fund; Eloy Ortiz Oakley, president of Long Beach City College; and John Bassett, president of Heritage University in Washington state. Staff writer Catherine Pritchard can be reached at pritchardc@fayobserver.com<mailto:pritchardc@fayobserver.com> or 486-3517. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!