Howard Brings in the Federal Money

By David Johns
Black College Wire

Howard University has been designated to receive an additional federal allotment of $224 million.

While all historically black colleges and universities stand to benefit from a White House initiative designed to help HBCUs access federally funded programs, Howard University has been designated to receive an additional federal allotment of $224 million.

President Bush's 2004 budget would increase funding for all HBCUs by 5 percent; $224 million would benefit HBCU undergraduate institutions and $53 million HBCU graduate institutions. Additionally, Howard, designated as a special line item in the president's budget, would receive an added increase of $234 million. The budget must be approved by Congress.

HBCUs were created in 1890 by the Second Morrill Act. The first act established land-grant colleges. The second established HBCUs.

"No money shall be paid out under this act to any State or Territory for the support and maintenance of a college where a distinction of race or color is made in the admission of students, but the establishment and maintenance of such colleges separately for white and colored students shall be held to be a compliance with the provisions of this act if the funds received in such State or Territory be equitably divided . . . " the act said.

"Thus was born in the then-segregated South a group of black institutions, with an agricultural emphasis, known as the 1890 land-grants," said Howard University Senior Vice President Dr. Hassan Minor.

The additional allocation of $234 million can be attributed to Howard's distinctive origins. While Howard is an HBCU, established with a principal mission to educate African Americans, it was specifically created by an act of Congress signed by President Andrew Johnson in March 1867.

Because Howard provides a major avenue of postsecondary access and opportunity for black Americans and other historically underrepresented minorities, its charter included an annual direct federal appropriation. The federal funding includes support for the university's academic program, endowment, research, construction and hospital.

The services designated under the federal appropriation's stipulations are designed to maintain and improve upon an institution that educates more than 12,000 students annually. At a time that many "racially inclusive" programs are being amended or abandoned, Howard, it appears will not be affected by this trend.

"While no Congress can bind another, the University's federal appropriation has remained constant through four major wars, the Great Depression, numerous party changes and 27 U.S. Presidents," Minor said.

"Howard receives direct federal support because for 135 years, the University has proven to be a major avenue to postsecondary access and educational opportunity for African Americans and others from historically disadvantaged backgrounds, and because the University has consistently fulfilled its strategic national mission of providing leadership for American and the global community," said Minor.

David Johns is a student at Howard University who writes for The Hilltop.