09.30.10

More than $250 Million in Federal Funding To Be Released Today to Help Students Graduate College

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Over $250 million in federal investments to help fund innovative programs that help students graduate college and aid historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) in better serving their students will be released today by the Department of Education, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) announced this morning. “Earlier this year, we made the decision to invest in students and American jobs and protect taxpayers,” said Miller, the author of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. “Today those critical dollars will go out to colleges and to organizations that are working hard to ensure our students are able to graduate college fully prepared to compete in a global economy.”

The College Access Challenge Grant Program bolsters college access and completion support for students. It supports unique programs at states and institutions that focus on increasing financial literacy and helping institutions retain and graduate students. It was originally passed as part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act in 2007.  In the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, enacted as part of  the historic Health Care and Education Reconciliation law earlier this year, the program received $150 million a year for the next five years. The total investment in this program was $750 million.

Additionally, $85 million will go out today to HBCUs and $30 million to TCUs. The investments will help renew, reform and expand programs at these institutions to ensure all students are able to succeed.  The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act invested a total of $2.55 billion in HBCUs and minority serving institutions over the next 10 years.

More information about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act