Earmarks Helpful for Minority-serving Institutions Struggling In Tough Economy: With Congress completing work on a $410 billion omnibus spending bill, minority-serving institutions can point to some tangible funding gains in the first months of 2009 with the possibility of more gains ahead.
From earmarks for individual colleges to little-noticed provisions of the economic stimulus package, MSIs have realized gains that may help cushion the effects of the ongoing economic downturn. The stimulus package, for example, includes $15 million for the U.S. Department of the Interior to support historic preservation at historically Black colleges and universities.
HBCUs have $700 million in historic preservation needs, says Edith Bartley, government affairs director at the United Negro College Fund. Still, she notes, “We’re thrilled with this investment. It’s a step in the right direction.”
A state education “stabilization fund” in the stimulus bill also could go toward modernization and improvement. While there is no guarantee that money will flow to higher education, she says, college facilities may be eligible for these funds.
