Philander Smith University Joins Arkansas HBCU Leaders to Announce Millions in Additional Federal Funding
Philander Smith University President and CEO Dr. Maurice D. Gipson joined U.S. Rep. French Hill and leaders from Arkansas’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities on Monday to announce additional federal funding that will strengthen the institutions’ capacity to serve students and communities across the state.
The press conference, held on the Philander Smith campus, brought together leaders representing Arkansas Baptist College, Shorter College, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Philander Smith University.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education announced that more than $174 million in additional funding would be directed to HBCUs across the country. Arkansas’s four HBCUs will receive approximately $4 million in total, with Philander Smith University receiving $1,139,146 as part of the one-time allocation.
“Today is not really about just a number. Today is about what that number makes possible,” said President Gipson. “It is about the student who’s the first in her family to go to college. It is about the student who continues to work while they’re going to school. The student whose family dropped them off to this campus with more hope than money.”
Joining Gipson and Hill for the announcement were Dr. Jeffery Norfleet, president of Shorter College in North Little Rock; Dr. Anthony Graham, chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; and Dr. Phil Rodgers, executive vice president of Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, along with other federal, state and local representatives.
The institutional leaders emphasized the distinctive role HBCUs continue to play in creating pathways to higher education, particularly for first-generation students, students with significant financial need and those seeking another opportunity to complete a college education.
Additional federal support can help institutions strengthen the academic programs, technology and physical infrastructure that support student success while helping ensure that opportunity remains within reach.
“When one Arkansas HBCU is stronger, Arkansas is stronger,” Gipson said. “When all four of our institutions are stronger, this state has more talent, more opportunity, more innovation, and more people prepared to lead.”
Officials also highlighted the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Hill and Rep. Alma Adams of North Carolina and co-sponsored by members of the Congressional HBCU Caucus. The legislation would establish competitive grants for HBCUs to renovate, repair, and construct campus facilities, including classrooms, research laboratories, student housing, and broadband infrastructure.
The federal funding announced Monday is separate from the proposed IGNITE legislation, which remains an effort to address longer-term infrastructure and institutional capacity needs at HBCUs.
