SECTOR NEWS
Biden’s unprecedented funding for Black colleges
“It’s important to support all colleges, but we know that some colleges are feeling the impact much more, and most importantly some students are feeling the impact more, than others,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told me on Friday. The Biden administration has a goal to “build these colleges up better than they were before,” and this starts, he said, with the American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion economic-stimulus package that President Joe Biden signed in March. More than 900 community colleges will receive a total of $10 billion from the federal government; the nation’s roughly 100 Black colleges will gain $1 billion immediately, plus another $1.6 billion later this year. (The Atlantic)
Howard launches city-wide K-4 tutoring initiative for work-study students
Today, Reading Partners DC announced its partnership with Howard University Center for Career and Professional Success for the upcoming school year. This partnership will expand access to literacy tutors for K-4 students across the district and will, in turn, provide Howard University undergraduate students the opportunity to empower young learners as part of their federal work-study.
Reading Partners DC executive director, Shukurat Adamoh-Faniyan, commented on the opportunity this partnership brings for the program. “We are so grateful to join the Howard University community in this capacity. Howard University has a long and rich legacy around volunteering, and we are thrilled to connect our young readers to the phenomenal student community.” The collaboration with Howard University will increase the number of Black college students who will have the opportunity to work with Reading Partners’ majority Black elementary students. (Howard University)
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference extends partnership with Coca-Cola for five years
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (“SIAC”) announced today that the league has entered into a five-year corporate partnership extension with the Coca-Cola Company (“Coca-Cola”). As a part of its long-standing commitment to supporting the mission of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Coca-Cola has been a proud partner of the SIAC for over 70 years and will continue to serve as the “Official Beverage Partner” of the SIAC.
As the Official Beverage of the conference, the partnership will provide Coca-Cola with opportunities to leverage SIAC live events, digital and social media assets as well as pre-existing and future SIAC broadcast and media rights partnerships to promote Coca-Cola’s products, brands, and corporate messaging across all SIAC platforms while empowering student-athletes and SIAC member institutions. (The SIAC)
NC Central researchers: vaping may worsen coronavirus infections
Research by investigators from North Carolina Central University suggests that vaping contributes to increased severity of coronavirus-dependent pulmonary disease, with implications for COVID-19 infected patients.
Researchers recently published their findings in the journal “Frontiers in Physiology,” determining that use of vaped electronic cigarettes, known as e-cigarettes, may contribute to pulmonary disease severity. The research was conducted using mice infected with coronavirus. (NC Central University)
Talladega exploring return of football
Talladega College made headlines last year when Deion Sanders received his college degree from the school.
Now the Alabama HBCU is looking into the possibility of bringing back college football after an 80-year hiatus. The school’s Board of Trustees recently voted to conduct a feasibility study on bringing the sport back.
“Given the success of our academic and athletic programs; the recent growth and transformation of the college; and the myriad benefits of having a football program, now may be the time to revive our team,” Billy C. Hawkins, president of Talladega College told CBS42. “This could be great for the college, the community, and central Alabama. However, our decision will be based upon the findings of a formal feasibility study,” Billy C. Hawkins, president of Talladega College.” (HBCU Gameday)
INDUSTRY NEWS
Demographic realism and the crisis of higher education (Los Angeles Review of Books)
Michigan State House proposes new funding model for higher education (Michigan Daily)
Cardona opens emergency grants to undocumented and international college students (Washington Post)
4 ‘new normal’ priorities for higher-ed finance leaders (University Business)
