Today, the U.S. Department of Education revealed that they are awarding grants to eight historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). 

In addition to the grants, they will provide $1.5 million dollars to fund the establishment of a brand new diversity initiative which will support HBCUs alongside other institutions.

This funding is an effort by Biden-Harris to promote diversity in education, which they have been working towards since Day One of the Administration. It is intended to help preserve inclusivity in teaching and will fund advancements in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and education workforce by assisting minorities who study within both those fields.

HBCUs produce 50% of all Black teachers, and the Black Teacher Collaborative has published data that shows Black teachers only represent 7% of the public school workforce. Miguel Cardona, The U.S. Secretary of Education, described HBCU education as crucial to the country’s work landscape.

“Our nation’s beautiful diversity is one of our greatest cultural and economic strengths. The grants announced today build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments in HBCUs and will help put more teachers of color in classrooms and in STEM careers—two key professions of today and tomorrow’s workforce,” he said in a statement published via the Department of Education Press Office.

The HBCU grants will be awarded under the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program (Hawkins) and the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP). MSEIP aims to encourage more minorities, especially minority women, to seek careers in STEM.

Morehouse College, Grambling State University, North Carolina Central University and Prairie View A&M University are each receiving $100 thousand or more through the Hawkins program during the fiscal year of 2024. The highest amount belongs to Morehouse, who is receiving around $600 thousand. 

The MSEIP program awards Savannah State University, Fort Valley State University, Rust College and Shaw University with about $200 thousand each. 

The Department of Education’s new diversity initiative is a National Technical Assistance Center to Diversify the Workforce Serving Children with Disabilities, and the $1.5 million will be awarded for its inception as soon as tomorrow.

The Center’s purpose is to develop programs that will be successful in earning such institutions more federal grants for HBCUs and other minority serving institutions (MSIs).

Biden-Harris was the first Administration to acquire funding for the Hawkins program. Hawkins has been awarding grants to HBCUs, MSIs and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) since 2022.

This new announcement comes months before the official end of the Biden-Harris term, and less than 50 days before Election Day 2024.