McConnell Amendment Adds Kentucky State University to the List of Historically Black Colleges and Universities
July 24, 2007
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday that the Senate approved his amendment to add Kentucky State University to the list of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) that are eligible to receive funding for their graduate programs. The McConnell measure is included in the Higher Education Act Reauthorization (S. 1642), which passed the Senate today.
Kentucky State enjoys a proud heritage as the Commonwealth’s only HBCU. Chartered by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1886, Kentucky State is one of the 15 original HBCU’s recognized in the historic Morrill Act of 1890.
For several decades, the federal government provided grants to graduate programs at a limited number of HBCU’s that were specifically spelled out in the Higher Education Act. Because Kentucky State University was not included on this list of schools, they were not eligible for this graduate school funding.
“Earlier this year, I was pleased to visit with Kentucky State’s President, Dr. Mary Evans Sias,” said McConnell. “During our meeting, Dr. Sias raised this issue with me and I am glad to help Kentucky State, its students, and its growing graduate programs.”
“Including Kentucky State’s graduate programs in the Higher Education Act will help many generations of students to come,” said Dr. Sias. “It is an understatement to say that I am pleased and I thank Senator McConnell for all his help.”
###