The Council of 1890 Land Grant Universities, of which FAMU is a member, wrote the leaders of Congress' education committees Monday asking them to triple Pell Grants for students and provide more federal funds to build a new technology infrastructure to support online learning and increase health care programs on the campuses.
The 19 schools on the Council, headed by former FAMU Ag Dean and current president of Virginia State University Makola Abdullah, wrote “the institutions are anticipating losses in the fall and summer terms “due to significant drops in student enrollment, state budget cuts, reduced research funding and additional technology infrastructure expenses.”
“We have all had to quickly pivot and transition from primarily on-campus teaching and instruction to strictly online and distance-learning. None of us had the necessary infrastructure or resources available or in place for such a dramatic shift. In addition, we have had to refund institutional fees and provide many students – especially our international students – with temporary housing,” he wrote.
Collectively, the universities serve more than 93,000 students. Abdullah said their institutions expect a 35 percent decline in enrollment this summer and fall.
He argued that temporarily tripling Pell Grants could help “ensure that low-income students do not lose ground in attending post-secondary institutions.”
Additionally, the schools asked for $190 million to make sure they have the technology to continue online learning, and asked lawmakers to urge the USDA to quickly release their appropriated FY 2020 funding as soon as possible.
$1.4 billion to expand health sciences programs
On the health front, schools asked for $1.4 billion to expand their research capacity and bolster their health care degree programs to address health disparities the coronavirus has exposed in communities of color.
On the health front, schools asked for $1.4 billion to expand their research capacity and bolster their health care degree programs to address health disparities the coronavirus has exposed in communities of color.
“As we look to the future, these investments would also include starting new programs in medicine, dental, nursing, and other health care fields. Critical to this effort would be the establishment of teaching hospitals on HBCU campuses to allow medical, dental and nursing students to receive the hands-on training they need to become effective health care providers,” he wrote.
“Increased funding for these programs will greatly improve the diversity of health professionals and help address the type of health disparities that are now highlighted in the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on African American, Hispanic, low-income and rural communities,” Abdullah said.