Obama, Davis boost new type of 'black college'
by Jim Tankersley
The Senate passed a broad higher-education bill today that included a small but important -- for a quarter million African-American students, anyway -- provision pushed by a pair of lawmakers from Illinois.
The College Cost Reduction and Access Act creates a new designation for colleges, "Predominantly Black Institutions," which don't qualify for "Historically Black Colleges and Universities" status but serve large numbers of African American students nevertheless. The estimated 75 colleges in that new group - including eight in Illinois - are now eligible for a $15 million pool of federal grants.
The engines behind the provision are Sen. Barack Obama and Rep. Danny Davis, a pair of Illinois Democrats. Obama's office hailed the Senate passed in a release today, which included Obama saying, "For decades, Predominantly Black Institutions have given our students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today's economy, and their recognition is long overdue. This funding will invest in a new generation of leaders by strengthening these institutions."
The bill now heads to President Bush, who has indicated he will sign it.
Read on for the full release from Obama's office:
OBAMA INITIATIVE TO FUND PREDOMINANTLY BLACK INSTITUTIONS PASSES SENATE
75 Colleges will be eligible for $15 million in annual grants
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today praised the Senate's passage of The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (H.R. 2669), which provides $15 million in annual funding for Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). In May, Obama joined with Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL) to introduce the Senate version of the Predominantly Black Institutions Act (S.1513). This proposal establishes a program for approximately 75 urban and rural colleges and technical programs that serve a large number of African American students - many who are the first in their families to attend college.
"For decades, Predominantly Black Institutions have given our students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today's economy, and their recognition is long overdue," Senator Obama said. "This funding will invest in a new generation of leaders by strengthening these institutions. Higher education remains too far out of reach for many students and we must break down any barriers that are preventing our kids from getting the world-class education they deserve. I want to thank Congressman Danny Davis for his continued leadership on this issue."
More than a quarter of a million students would benefit from grants awarded as a result of the PBI designation. Grants can be used for a variety of purposes, from acquiring laboratory equipment to supporting teacher education to establishing community outreach programs for pre-college students.
This legislation would amend the Higher Education Act to provide resources to Predominantly Black Institutions. These institutions are primarily urban and rural two-year colleges that serve at least 50 percent low-income or first-generation college students. This designation is projected to apply to 75 institutions in 17 states, benefiting approximately 265,000 students. While Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) also serve African-American students, institutions with this designation were established prior to 1964 and are not required to serve students with financial hardship. The PBI grants will provide more opportunities for equal academic achievement to minority students.
In Illinois, institutions that could benefit from this program include: City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College ; Chicago State University; South Suburban College; City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College; City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College; City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College; East-West University ; and Robert Morris College.
The PBI bill is supported by the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), the United Negro College Fund, and the American Association of Community Colleges.
Obama serves as a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
The Senate passed a broad higher-education bill today that included a small but important -- for a quarter million African-American students, anyway -- provision pushed by a pair of lawmakers from Illinois.
The College Cost Reduction and Access Act creates a new designation for colleges, "Predominantly Black Institutions," which don't qualify for "Historically Black Colleges and Universities" status but serve large numbers of African American students nevertheless. The estimated 75 colleges in that new group - including eight in Illinois - are now eligible for a $15 million pool of federal grants.
The engines behind the provision are Sen. Barack Obama and Rep. Danny Davis, a pair of Illinois Democrats. Obama's office hailed the Senate passed in a release today, which included Obama saying, "For decades, Predominantly Black Institutions have given our students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today's economy, and their recognition is long overdue. This funding will invest in a new generation of leaders by strengthening these institutions."
The bill now heads to President Bush, who has indicated he will sign it.
Read on for the full release from Obama's office:
OBAMA INITIATIVE TO FUND PREDOMINANTLY BLACK INSTITUTIONS PASSES SENATE
75 Colleges will be eligible for $15 million in annual grants
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today praised the Senate's passage of The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (H.R. 2669), which provides $15 million in annual funding for Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). In May, Obama joined with Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL) to introduce the Senate version of the Predominantly Black Institutions Act (S.1513). This proposal establishes a program for approximately 75 urban and rural colleges and technical programs that serve a large number of African American students - many who are the first in their families to attend college.
"For decades, Predominantly Black Institutions have given our students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today's economy, and their recognition is long overdue," Senator Obama said. "This funding will invest in a new generation of leaders by strengthening these institutions. Higher education remains too far out of reach for many students and we must break down any barriers that are preventing our kids from getting the world-class education they deserve. I want to thank Congressman Danny Davis for his continued leadership on this issue."
More than a quarter of a million students would benefit from grants awarded as a result of the PBI designation. Grants can be used for a variety of purposes, from acquiring laboratory equipment to supporting teacher education to establishing community outreach programs for pre-college students.
This legislation would amend the Higher Education Act to provide resources to Predominantly Black Institutions. These institutions are primarily urban and rural two-year colleges that serve at least 50 percent low-income or first-generation college students. This designation is projected to apply to 75 institutions in 17 states, benefiting approximately 265,000 students. While Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) also serve African-American students, institutions with this designation were established prior to 1964 and are not required to serve students with financial hardship. The PBI grants will provide more opportunities for equal academic achievement to minority students.
In Illinois, institutions that could benefit from this program include: City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College ; Chicago State University; South Suburban College; City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College; City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College; City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College; East-West University ; and Robert Morris College.
The PBI bill is supported by the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), the United Negro College Fund, and the American Association of Community Colleges.
Obama serves as a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
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