Program Purpose
The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to establish or strengthen the physical plants, financial management, academic resources, and endowments of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Funds may be used for the: (1) purchase, rental or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes--instructional and research; (2) construction, maintenance, and renovation of instructional facilities; (3) faculty development and exchanges; (4) academic instruction in disciplines where blacks are under- represented; (5) purchase of educational material; (6) student services; (7) funds and administrative management and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening management; and (8) joint use of facilities. Support is also provided to 16 graduate HBCUs that are making a substantial contribution to the legal, medical, dental, veterinary, or other graduate education opportunities of African-Americans.

Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a grant under the Strengthening HBCU program, an institution must be designated by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education as a Historically Black College or University. The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, defines an HBCU as an institution established prior to 1964 whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans, and must --