FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC (April 30, 2020) – The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) praised United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos for securing nearly $577 million in additional funding to help historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) continue to operate in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Today, Secretary DeVos consulted with the leadership of TMCF and other advocacy organizations before announcing that HBCUs will collectively receive $577 million in addition to the $351.69 million allocated in early April through the CARES Act, bringing the total funding for HBCUs to $928.6 million. Collectively, Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) will receive nearly $1.4 billion in CARES Act Relief Funds.
“Today’s announcement by the Department of Education on the allocation of the $1.046 billion of emergency funding for HBCUs, PBIs and MSIs is the welcome culmination of a tremendous effort by TMCF and mother advocacy organizations, key Members of Congress and their staff, and Secretary DeVos and the professionals within the Department of Education to get desperately needed emergency funding to some of the most important institutions of higher education in this country,” said TMCF President & CEO, Harry L. Williams. “This funding will not only help to offset the myriad, unanticipated costs that our schools have had to incur in trying to navigate the ongoing health emergency, but these funds will also give our schools resources to ensure the continuity of instruction into the summer semester and to begin developing contingency plans for the upcoming school year. “
The funding provided through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, as part of the overall CARES Act, will not have a more immediate or consequential impact than in the HBCU, PBI and MSI communities, said Williams.
TMCF has established the COVID-19 HBCU Emergency Fund to help students in need.
Note: Dr. Harry L. Williams, TMCF president & CEO is available for further comment.
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ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND (TMCF)
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the PK-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit:www.tmcf.org.
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