Title III

Strengthening Historically Black Colleges And Universities Program

The Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and University Program, often referred to as Title III, is funded under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended.  The Higher Education Act was legislation signed into United States law on November 8, 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society agenda.

The purpose of Title III, Part B, is to provide financial assistance to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, to assist these institutions in establishing and strengthening their physical plants, academic resources, fiscal management, and endowments, so that they may continue to participate in fulfilling the goal of equality of educational opportunity.  More specifically, the Title III Program assists institutions like Philander Smith College in funding developmental activities that will help the College fulfill its mission.

STUDENT AID AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT (SAFRA)

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 3221 (“The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009”) on September 17, 2009.   H.R. 3221 amends HEA, Title III, Part F to annually provide $255 million in mandatory funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs) for FY2010 through FY2019.

THE MISSION OF PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE

The College’s mission is to graduate academically accomplished students, grounded as advocates for social justice, determined to change the world for the better.

RELATIONSHIP OF TITLE III ACTIVITIES TO THE MISSION OF THE COLLEGE

All selected Title III activities support the mission and goals of the Institution. Each Activity is governed by a set of objectives, and each objective relates specifically to one or more of the Institution’s long-range goals. The Title III Program helps to bridge the financial gap for activities not financially possible through the College’s operational budget. Thus, the Title III grant supplements the College’s budget.  

HOW TITLE III FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED

Funds are allocated by a formula which is based upon the number of Pell Grant recipients at the institution; the number of bachelor degree recipients of the institution; and the number of students who graduated from the institution and have been admitted to and are in attendance at a graduate or professional school.

LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS THAT APPLY

Legislation:

Title III, Part B, Section 321-327 of the Higher Education Act, as amended
Title III, Part F, Section 371 of the Higher Education Act, as amended

Regulations :

34 CFR part 608
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) Parts 74,75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86,97, 98, and 99

Guidance:

Office of Management and Budget Circulars (OMB) A-21; A-87; A-122
Link to Legislation and Regulations: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iduestitle3b/index.html
Listed under:  Laws, Regulations, and Guidance.
A-133 Audit Requirements 

What Activities May Be Carried Out Under the Grant?

  The following activities are allowable and can be carried out under this grant:

• Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional or research purposes;

• Construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classrooms, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services;

• Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, and faculty fellowships to assist these faculty members in attaining advanced degrees in their fields of instruction;

• Academic instruction in disciplines in which Black Americans are underrepresented;

• Purchase of library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program materials;

• Tutoring, counseling, and student service programs designed to improve academic success;

• Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;

• Joint use of facilities, such as laboratories and libraries;

• Establishing or improving a development office to strengthen or improve contributions from alumni and the private sector;

• Establishing or enhancing a program of teacher education designed to qualify students to teach in a public elementary or secondary school in the State that shall include, as part of the program, preparation for teacher certification;

• Establishing community outreach programs that will encourage elementary and secondary students to develop the academic skills and the interest to pursue postsecondary education;

• Establishing and maintaining an institutional endowment;

• Acquisition of real property in connection with the construction, renovation, or addition to or improvement of campus facilities;

• Education or financial information designed to improve financial literacy and economic literacy of students or the students’ families, especially with regard to student indebtedness and student assistance programs under Title IV; and

• Services necessary for the implementation of projects or activities that are described in the grant application and that are approved, in advance, by the Secretary, except that not more than two percent of the grant amount maybe used.

Unallowable Activities   

• The following activities are unallowable and cannot be carried out under this grant (34 CFR, Subpart B, Paragraph 608.10):

• Activities that are not included in the grantee’s approved application;

• Activities that are not approved by the Secretary;

• Activities that are inconsistent with any State plan for desegregation of higher education that is applicable to the institution;

• Activities or services that relate to sectarian instruction or religious worship; and

• Activities provided by a school or department of divinity. For the purpose of this section, a “school or department of divinity” means an institution, or a department of an institution, whose program is specifically for the education of students to prepare them to become ministers of religion or to enter upon some other religious vocation, or to prepare them to teach theological subjects.