U.S. President Barack Obama has denied requests to renew a two-year federal grant to historically black colleges and universities. FAMU is slated to lose the biggest dollar amount.
The College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) provides $170M over two years to help HBCUs with their “academic resources, management capabilities, and physical plants.” Congress allocated half, $85M, in 2008.
Obama’s budget calls for HBCUs to receive the entire second half of the money in 2009 but lets the program expire after that, as originally planned. That comes as disappointing news to the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education and the United Negro College Fund, which both lobbied the president to renew the funding in 2010.
In 2008, FAMU netted the largest HBCU CCRAA grant: $2,002,165.
FAMU is using the money in three areas:
-Enterprise Resource Technology: Upgrading and modernizing networking services and computing equipment in four major student-learning environments on the main campus.
-Library Multimedia: Acquiring books, periodicals, licenses, and other electronic programs to meet required internal and external mandates for library holdings.
-Instructional Technology: Creating an infrastructure to build and train faculty to use 40 “smart classrooms” as well as providing other specialized scientific and laboratory equipment designed to increase FAMU’s capacity in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) areas.
White House spokespersons defended the president’s decision to let the grants expire, saying that HBCUs will receive a bump in recurring baseline federal funds and benefit from increases in need-based student aid. They added that HBCU leaders understood that the CCRAA money was temporary.
Proponents of extending the grant counter that no educational budget line item, even the hugely popular Pell Grant, is automatically guaranteed funding from year-to-year. Congress and the president have the power to reduce, eliminate, or extend any grant they chose. It all comes down to a matter of priorities.
For another view on this issue, check out Blogger Kim Lampkins' commentary.
The College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) provides $170M over two years to help HBCUs with their “academic resources, management capabilities, and physical plants.” Congress allocated half, $85M, in 2008.
Obama’s budget calls for HBCUs to receive the entire second half of the money in 2009 but lets the program expire after that, as originally planned. That comes as disappointing news to the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education and the United Negro College Fund, which both lobbied the president to renew the funding in 2010.
In 2008, FAMU netted the largest HBCU CCRAA grant: $2,002,165.
FAMU is using the money in three areas:
-Enterprise Resource Technology: Upgrading and modernizing networking services and computing equipment in four major student-learning environments on the main campus.
-Library Multimedia: Acquiring books, periodicals, licenses, and other electronic programs to meet required internal and external mandates for library holdings.
-Instructional Technology: Creating an infrastructure to build and train faculty to use 40 “smart classrooms” as well as providing other specialized scientific and laboratory equipment designed to increase FAMU’s capacity in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) areas.
White House spokespersons defended the president’s decision to let the grants expire, saying that HBCUs will receive a bump in recurring baseline federal funds and benefit from increases in need-based student aid. They added that HBCU leaders understood that the CCRAA money was temporary.
Proponents of extending the grant counter that no educational budget line item, even the hugely popular Pell Grant, is automatically guaranteed funding from year-to-year. Congress and the president have the power to reduce, eliminate, or extend any grant they chose. It all comes down to a matter of priorities.
For another view on this issue, check out Blogger Kim Lampkins' commentary.
RN, after reviewing the email from the Title III administrator, I'm at a loss to understand the title of your post on this subject. If President Obama has recommended"...$296,595,000 for the HBCU and HBGI (Historically Black Graduate Institutions) programs and an additional $85,000,000 for the CCRAA in fiscal year 2009 that begins on October 1, 2009.", then I don't understand the "to". I realize that by increasing the Pell Grant awards, the administration is expecting HBCUs to step up their effort in recruiting more students, but this alone will not make up the entire difference in funding. Although, congress may very well reinstate that funding (which was temporary, and which the Obama administration is lobbying for them to do in the background), the "to" in your title should be "stand". Just an observation.
ReplyDeleteI think RN needs to write a retraction.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama wants to let the CCRAA expire after the 2009 fiscal year. There will be a combined $20,830,00 increase in baseline funds for HBCUs/HBGIs in 2010, but the $85M/year CCRAA won't be renewed if the White House's recommendation is adopted.
ReplyDeleteA retraction? People, it's a blog. RN is NOT a newspaper. If you use this as your main source of finding out information, then you have a serious problem.
ReplyDeleteNo retraction needed. Just a clarification in the title. Again, congress may very well reinstate the funding and make it permanent.
ReplyDeleteGIVE BACK THE BONUS
ReplyDelete6/01/2009 3:15 PM
ReplyDeleteI see your point. The title has been adjusted.
You da man.;-)
ReplyDeleteKeep the bonus Dr. Ammons. You deserve it. However, knowing you like I do, you will find a way to give it to the students or employees.
ReplyDelete