SECTOR NEWS
Maryland finalizes $577M settlement for HBCU federal lawsuit
Maryland has finalized a $577 million settlement to end a 15-year federal lawsuit relating to underfunding at the state’s four historically Black colleges and universities, state officials announced Wednesday.
The Maryland Attorney General’s Office signed the agreement with attorneys for the plaintiffs to settle the case. Lawmakers passed legislation earlier this year to set aside the money, and Gov. Larry Hogan signed the bill last month.
“This settlement marks an historic investment in Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” Attorney General Brian Frosh said. “It will enable these valued institutions to expand their academic reach and to assist thousands of students with getting the education they deserve.” (Associated Press)
Tennessee State eyes launch of nation’s first HBCU hockey team
Tennessee State University leaders are looking into starting an NCAA Division I ice hockey program, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation.
The school will reportedly announce soon announce plans to conduct a feasibility study with the goal of determining the viability of starting a hockey program at TSU as well as how much fundraising would need to be done. If officials push on from there, TSU’s would be the first Division I hockey team in the history of the country’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. (Nashville Post)
CYBER.ORG launches K-12 HBCU feeder program to grow and diversify the national cybersecurity workforce
CYBER.ORG announced the kickoff of a new pilot program created to recruit a diverse body of K-12 students to pursue undergraduate cybersecurity degrees and bolster the U.S. cybersecurity workforce. Through a $250,000 grant provided by the National Security Agency (NSA), CYBER.ORG will develop a K-12 feeder program for Grambling State University (GSU) in Northern Louisiana, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and the first university in the state to create a cybersecurity undergraduate degree. The goal is to replicate this model between school districts and HBCU’s across the country. (Security Magazine)
Spelman students win $1 million in Goldman Sachs competition for HBCUs
A team of five Spelman College sophomores won a $1 million grant for their university and took home the top honors from a four- month long financial case study competition hosted by Goldman Sachs. Britney Kwakye, Gia Tejeda, Whitney Williams, Anisah Thomas and Caroline Whitfield faced stiff competition against 120 first and second-year HBCU students from across the country. (Black Wall Street Times)
INDUSTRY NEWS
Pennsylvania higher ed system releases consolidation plans (Inside Higher Ed)
Candidates for school presidents won’t be secret in Florida after all (Tampa Bay Times)
Tech apprenticeships shift the costs of higher ed from students to employers (EdSurge)
Local community prepares for potential effects of Apple’s newly announced campus (Daily Tar Heel)
