U.S. Department of Education Awards $104 Million to Support Minority Serving Institutions

The U.S. Department of Education today announced the award of more than $104 million to Minority Serving Institutions. These five-year grants provide resources to 104 institutions, in 13 states, to improve and expand their capacity to serve Hispanic, Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander, and low-income students.

“All students deserve the resources to enhance their knowledge and skills in order to compete in today’s 21st century careers,” said U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. “These grants will help build a stronger pathway for some of our country’s hardest-working, low-income students, allowing them to unlock their unique potential, and contribute to the development of our country’s future.”

Institutions of higher education are deemed eligible to receive funds under the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions and Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions programs, if at the time of submission, undergraduate enrollment of Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander students was at least 10 percent. Under the Hispanic-Serving Institutions – Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics and Articulation program, eligible applicants include Hispanic Serving Institutions with an undergraduate full-time enrollment of at least 25 percent Hispanic students, at the end of the award year immediately preceding the date of application.

The grant programs provide additional layers of student supports and resources via institutional aid to advance the postsecondary attainment rates of both minority and lower income students.

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Grant

The Department awarded $4.7 million in new grant funds. These five-year grants provide resources to 14 institutions, in five states to improve and expand their capacity to serve Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander, low-income students. The maximum grant award is $350,000 per year for five years for a total award of $1,750,000. The average award ranges from $300,000 - $350,000 per year.

The grant funds can be used to increase student retention and progression through college level courses by re-engineering student support services and supplemental instruction, or providing enhanced faculty profession development. It can also be used to develop summer programs to bridge the gap between two-year and four-year colleges and universities, strengthen assessments and integrate academic advising, academic support and academic enrichment, or developing endowment funds to meet ongoing costs for maintenance or upgrades to technology.

Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Grant

The Department awarded $7.2 million in grant funds. These five-year grants provide resources to 19 institutions, to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals.

Grants awarded under this section shall be used by Native American nontribal-serving institutions to assist such institutions to plan, develop, undertake, and carry out activities to improve and expand such institutions’ capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals.

Types of projects may include:

• Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;
• Renovation and improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities;
• Support of faculty exchanges, and faculty development and faculty fellowships to assist in attaining advanced degrees in the faculty’s field of instruction;
• Curriculum development and academic instruction;
• Purchase of library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials;
• Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;
• Joint use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries;
• Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student support services; and
• Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students or the students’ families.

Hispanic-Serving Institutions—STEM Grant

The Department awarded $92 million in new grant funds. These five-year grants provide resources to 91 institutions, to increase the number of Hispanic and other low-income students attaining degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; and to develop model transfer and articulation agreements between two-year and four-year institutions in such fields.

Funds may be used for: improving academic quality of STEM programs through curriculum revision and development, or faculty development; developing research opportunities for students in STEM fields; providing or improving student services including counseling, tutoring, mentoring or establishing learning communities; encouraging secondary students to pursue STEM degrees and careers through outreach activities; and improving STEM facilities and equipment needed for science instruction and computer laboratories.

The Obama Administration has taken a number of steps to widen access to higher education by empowering students to choose the best institutions for them through the College Scorecard, boosting Pell Grant funding, streamlining the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and maintaining low interest rates on federal subsidized Stafford Loans.

The grant programs are funded by the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Grant New Awards

State    Institution....................................................... 2016-17 Approved Funding CA..... American River College.................................................................. $350,000 CA..... CSU East Bay................................................................................. $349,998 CA..... Mt. San Antonio College................................................................ $350,000 CA..... Peralta Community College/Laney College.................................... $349,966 CA..... San Francisco State University ...................................................... $348,509 CA..... University California Irvine............................................................ $302,242 CA..... University Enterprises, CSU Sacramento....................................... $349,586 MA..... Bunker Hill Community College.................................................... $344,859 MA..... Middlesex Community College...................................................... $346,449 MA..... University of Massachusetts Boston.............................................. $350,000 MN..... University of Minnesota................................................................. $349,988 NV..... University of Nevada Las Vegas.................................................... $349,999 NY..... CUNY Hunter................................................................................ $349,565 WA.... Pierce College................................................................................. $300,000

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Grant Continuation Awards

CA..... Coast Community College District/Coastline Community College $300,000 CA..... Mission College.............................................................................. $300,000 CA..... San Jose Evergreen Com. College District (Evergreen Valley College) $284,710 CA..... SOCCCD, dba Irvine Valley College............................................ $300,000 IL....... University of Illinois Chicago......................................................... $280,114 MA..... University of Massachusetts Boston.............................................. $299,999 MP..... Northern Marianas College............................................................. $289,090 NV..... University of Nevada Las Vegas.................................................... $299,999 TX...... Richland College............................................................................ $300,000 WA.... Highline College............................................................................. $300,000

Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Grant 2016 New Awards

State    Institution....................................................... 2016-17 Approved Funding

AK..... University Of Alaska Fairbanks................................................ $348,888.00 CO..... Fort Lewis College.................................................................... $350,000.00 NC..... University Of North Carolina At Pembroke.............................. $349,643.00 NM..... San Juan College........................................................................ $346,210.00 OK..... Connors State College Of Agricultural & Applied Science...... $349,998.00 OK..... Redlands Community College................................................... $349,376.00 OK..... Seminole State College.............................................................. $349,997.00 OK..... University Of Science And Arts Of Oklahoma........................ $348,845.00 OK..... State Of Oklahoma East Central University............................. $350,000.00 OK..... Murray State College................................................................. $349,360.00 OK..... St. Gregory's University............................................................ $344,103.00 OK..... Northern Oklahoma College...................................................... $349,993.00 OK..... Northeastern State University................................................... $338,977.00

 

Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Grant Continuation Awards

AZ...... Navajo County Community College District............................ $316,707.00 MN..... Regents Of The University Of Minnesota................................. $399,039.00 MT..... Montana State University, Inc................................................... $391,184.00 OK..... Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College................................... $339,739.00 OK..... Redlands Community College................................................... $399,857.00 OK..... Carl Albert State College........................................................... $399,605.00 UT...... Utah State University................................................................ $392,758.00

Hispanic-Serving Institutions—STEM Grant

State... Institution Name................................................ FY 2016 Award Amount AZ...... Pima County Community College District - East Campus............. $736,714 AZ...... Yuma/La Paz Counties Community College District.................. $1,200,000 CA..... Cabrillo College........................................................................... $1,096,785 CA..... California Lutheran University....................................................... $855,132 CA..... California State University, Bakersfield...................................... $1,199,994 CA..... California State University, Channel Islands.............................. $1,199,297 CA..... California State University, Dominguez Hills............................. $1,191,269 CA..... California State University, Fullerton.......................................... $1,171,681 CA..... California State University, Long Beach Research Foundation.. $1,153,233 CA..... California State University, San Marcos (UARSC on Behalf of) $1,199,868 CA..... California State University, Stanislaus........................................ $1,141,992 CA..... Chaffey Community College.......................................................... $735,470 CA..... Contra Costa Community College District.................................. $1,199,013 CA..... Cuyamaca College....................................................................... $1,189,896 CA..... East Los Angeles College............................................................ $1,200,000 CA..... Gavilan College.............................................................................. $947,491 CA..... Hartnell Community College District.......................................... $1,194,549 CA..... Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation....... $643,374 CA..... Los Angeles City College............................................................ $1,200,000 CA..... Los Angeles Harbor College........................................................ $1,200,000 CA..... Los Angeles Valley College........................................................ $1,200,000 CA..... Los Rios Community College District, Sacramento City College.. $930,006 CA..... Mission College.............................................................................. $967,816 CA..... Pasadena City College................................................................. $1,200,000 CA..... Reedley College........................................................................... $1,013,421 CA..... Riverside Community College District/Moreno Valley College. $1,200,000 CA..... Riverside Community College District/Norco College............... $1,200,000 CA..... Saint Mary's College of California................................................. $651,230 CA..... San Diego Mesa College................................................................. $925,769 CA..... San Mateo County Community College District- Canada College $868,726 CA..... San Mateo County Community College District- College of San Mateo $732,446 CA..... Santa Barbara City College......................................................... $1,177,851 CA..... Santa Monica College.................................................................. $1,199,413 CA..... The CSU, Chico Research Foundation........................................... $770,809 CA..... The Regents of The University of California, Santa Cruz........... $1,142,309 CA..... The University Corporation......................................................... $1,199,483 CA..... University Corporation At Monterey Bay................................... $1,129,739 CA..... University Enterprises Corporation At CSUSB............................. $969,198 CA..... University of La Verne................................................................ $1,199,941 CA..... Ventura County Community College District............................. $1,199,230 CO..... Colorado State University - Pueblo............................................. $1,199,663 CO..... Community College of Denver....................................................... $588,694 FL...... Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees............................... $756,415 FL...... Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry Campus............. $1,193,819 FL...... Miami Dade College.................................................................... $1,197,165 FL...... Miami Dade College North Campus.............................................. $917,502 FL...... South Florida State College......................................................... $1,122,899 FL...... Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico - Orlando........................ $995,358 IL....... National Louis University............................................................... $727,375 IL....... Northeastern Illinois University................................................... $1,199,770 IL....... The Board of Trustees of The University Of Illinois...................... $886,571 MA..... Springfield Technical Community College..................................... $676,668 NJ....... Bergen Community College........................................................ $1,121,725 NJ....... Cumberland County College.......................................................... $945,851 NJ....... New Jersey City University......................................................... $1,197,381 NJ....... Passaic County Community College.............................................. $833,542 NJ....... Saint Peter's University................................................................... $969,403 NM..... Eastern New Mexico University..................................................... $413,088 NM..... Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell...................................... $764,564 NM..... New Mexico Highlands University................................................ $555,884 NM..... New Mexico State University - Carlsbad....................................... $911,854 NM..... University of New Mexico Valencia Branch Campus................. $1,092,572 NY..... CUNY Queens College.................................................................. $968,562 NY..... CUNY Research Foundation  on Behalf of LaGuardia Comm College $809,923 NY..... CUNY Research Foundation on Behalf of BMCC.................... $1,200,000 NY..... CUNY Research Foundation on Behalf of Lehman College...... $1,047,488 NY..... CUNY The Research Foundation- The City College.................. $1,042,865 NY..... Mercy College................................................................................. $696,572 NY..... Vaughn College of Aeronautics And Technology...................... $1,199,970 PR...... Bayamon Central University....................................................... $1,191,498 PR...... Dewey University-Carolina............................................................ $997,059 PR...... Humacao Community College..................................................... $1,085,889 PR...... Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon Campus.... $1,199,021 PR...... Universidad Del Este................................................................... $1,200,000 PR...... Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico - San Juan.................... $1,199,803 TX...... Alvin Community College.............................................................. $849,134 TX...... Amarillo College............................................................................. $994,819 TX...... Dallas County Community College District- Eastfield College.. $1,180,430 TX...... El Centro College........................................................................ $1,141,128 TX...... Laredo Community College........................................................ $1,200,000 TX...... Lee College District........................................................................ $701,256 TX...... Palo Alto College............................................................................ $775,000 TX...... San Antonio College....................................................................... $775,000 TX...... Schreiner University.................................................................... $1,199,720 TX...... St. Mary's University................................................................... $1,065,195 TX...... Texas State University................................................................. $1,137,755 TX...... The University of Texas At El Paso............................................ $1,089,444 TX...... University of Houston - Clear Lake............................................... $724,820 TX...... University of St. Thomas................................................................ $775,000 WA.... Big Bend Community College....................................................... $949,125 WA.... Yakima Valley Community College............................................... $859,305