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Office of Sponsored Programs

Title III

Strengthening Historically Black
Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)

Background

Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 authorized a program of federal financial assistance to assist developing institutions of higher education to strengthen their academic quality and administrative capacity so that they could become self-sufficient. The re-authorizations have focused on funding institutions that enroll large proportions of minority and financially disadvantage students with low per-student expenditures. In addition, it encouraged African Americans to enroll in graduate school upon completion of their undergraduate degree.

Title III Part B

Huston-Tillotson received its Grant Award Notification (GAN) from the Department of Education for continued funding under The Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and University Program (HBCU Grant). For the budget period October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. The University’s Title III Program PART B, was awarded $2,409,125.00 to uphold the University’s commitment to meeting the objectives and goals expressed in the 2022-2022 grant application. The 2022-2027 Title III Project includes ten (10) pre-planned activities designed to establish and strengthening the University’s physical plant, financial management, academic resources, and student services. These activities which are funded through the U.S. Department of Education, consists of a variety of strategies that are being used to continue developing/reviewing academic areas; providing incentives for professional development, administrative management operations, improving student services programs that are designed to improve academic performance, purchasing/upgrading equipment, and enhancing instructional media capabilities.

Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program 

The Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and University Program, often referred to as Title III, is funded under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended.  The Higher Education Act was legislation signed into United States law on November 8, 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society agenda.

The purpose of Title III, Part B, is to provide financial assistance to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, to assist these institutions in establishing and strengthening their physical plants, academic resources, fiscal management, and endowments, so that they may continue to participate in fulfilling the goal of equality of educational opportunity.  More specifically, the Title III Program assists institutions like Huston-Tillotson University in funding developmental activities that will help the University fulfill its mission.

Future Act formally Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) 

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2486 (“The Future Act”) in December 5, 2019.   H.R. 2486 amends HEA, Title III, Part F to annually provide $255 million in mandatory funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs). The annual award for Title III Part F is $500,000. 

Huston-Tillotson University Vision Statement:

A connected world where diversity of thought matters

The Mission of Huston-Tillotson University

HT nurtures a legacy of leadership and excellence in education, connecting knowledge, power, passion, and values.

Relationship of Title III Activities to the Mission of the University 

All selected Title III activities support the mission and goals of the Institution. Each Activity is governed by a set of objectives, and each objective relates specifically to one or more of the Institution’s long-range goals. The Title III Program helps to bridge the financial gap for activities not financially possible through the University’s operational budget. Thus, the Title III grant supplements the University’s budget.

How Title III Funds Are Allocated  

Funds are allocated by a formula which is based upon the number of Pell Grant recipients at the institution; the number of bachelor degree recipients of the institution; and the number of students who graduated from the institution and have been admitted to and are in attendance at a graduate or professional school.

Legislation and Regulations That Apply  

Legislation:

  • Title III, Part B, Section 321-327 of the Higher Education Act, as amended
  • Title III, Part F, Section 371 of the Higher Education Act, as amended

Regulations :

  • 34 CFR part 608
  • Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) Parts 74,75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86,97, 98, and 99

Guidance:

What Activities May Be Carried Out Under the Grant? 

  The following activities are allowable and can be carried out under this grant:

  • Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional or research purposes;
  • Construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classrooms, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services;
  • Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, and faculty fellowships to assist these faculty  members in attaining advanced degrees in their fields of instruction;
  • Academic instruction in disciplines in which Black Americans are underrepresented;
  • Purchase of library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program materials;
  • Tutoring, counseling, and student service programs designed to improve academic success;
  • Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;
  • Joint use of facilities, such as laboratories and libraries;
  • Establishing or improving a development office to strengthen or improve contributions from alumni and the private sector;
  • Establishing or enhancing a program of teacher education designed to qualify students to teach in a public elementary or secondary school in the State that shall include, as part of the program, preparation for teacher certification;
  • Establishing community outreach programs that will encourage elementary and secondary students to develop the academic skills and the interest to pursue postsecondary education;
  • Establishing and maintaining an institutional endowment;
  • Acquisition of real property in connection with the construction, renovation, or addition to or improvement of campus facilities;
  • Education or financial information designed to improve financial literacy and economic literacy of students or the students’ families, especially with regard to student indebtedness and student assistance programs under Title IV; and
  • Services necessary for the implementation of projects or activities that are described in the grant application and that are approved, in advance, by the Secretary, except that not more than two percent of the grant amount maybe used.

Unallowable Activities   

The following activities are unallowable and cannot be carried out under this grant (34 CFR, Subpart B, Paragraph 608.10):

  • Activities that are not included in the grantee’s approved application;
  • Activities that are not approved by the Secretary;
  • Activities that are inconsistent with any State plan for desegregation of higher education that is applicable to the institution;
  • Activities or services that relate to sectarian instruction or religious worship; and
  • Activities provided by a school or department of divinity.  For the purpose of this section, a “school or department of divinity” means an institution, or a department of an institution, whose program is specifically for the education of students to prepare them to become ministers of religion or to enter upon some other religious vocation, or to prepare them to teach theological subjects.

Title III Forms

Additional Information