To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional uses of funds for grants to strengthen historically Black colleges and universities, and for other purposes.
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand how grants to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) can be used, with a special emphasis on arts and culture. It adds a new set of allowable activities related to arts, arts education, and cultural programs at HBCUs—such as student support in arts programs, outreach and development for arts departments, wraparound student services, and efforts to exhibit and preserve Black art. The bill also authorizes partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to carry out these activities and broadens the definition of “arts” to include a wide range of forms. Overall, the measure aims to strengthen HBCUs by bolstering arts education, cultural programs, and related professional opportunities. Potential impacts include enhanced arts programming at HBCUs, greater support for students pursuing arts careers, improved preservation and display of Black art, and new collaboration opportunities with the NEA. It broadens the scope of how grant funds can be used, which could affect program design, administration, and reporting requirements at participating institutions.
Key Points
- 1Adds new authorized uses of grant funds for HBCUs to support arts, arts education, and cultural programs, including:
- 2- Providing financial and other assistance to students in these areas.
- 3- Establishing outreach programs and development offices for arts-related departments.
- 4- Delivering wraparound services (mentorship, work-based learning, counseling, career advising) for arts students.
- 5- Exhibiting, maintaining, and protecting Black art collections.
- 6- Providing paid apprenticeships, internships, and fellowships in arts and cultural programs through partnerships with external nonprofit arts organizations.
- 7Allows partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to carry out the activities described above.
- 8Expands the definition of “arts” to encompass performance, literary, visual, graphic, plastic, and decorative arts as forms of self-expression and interpretation.
- 9Places these new uses within the existing HEA framework (modifying Section 323) to ensure they’re treated as authorized grant activities for HBCUs.
- 10The findings emphasize the importance of arts funding and support for Black artists and arts programs at HBCUs as part of broader diversity and cultural preservation goals.