Four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that were the targets of bomb threats last year are getting more than $1 million to strengthen their support systems.
The U.S. Department of Education (EDU) announced the awarding of the Project School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV) grants in a May 31 news release. Educational agencies and institutes of higher learning that have endured "a violent or traumatic incident" can use Project SERV short-term funding "to assist in restoring a safe environment conducive to learning," EDU states in the news release.
EDU Sec. Miguel Cardona said on social media that it's "now more important that ever that we stand by HBCUs."
U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona
| ed.gov/
"The Project SERV grants announced today will help Historically Black Colleges & Universities to better serve students & staff by increasing access to wellness services & improving other support," Cardona wrote in a May 31 Twitter post.
The HBCUs receiving the announced funding are Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C., $440,000; Delaware State University in Dover, Del., $217,000; Howard University in Washington, D.C., $203,000; and Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, $191,962, the news release reports.
Claflin University plans to use its grant to hire a licensed clinical social worker, conduct stress reduction training and workshops on identifying signs of distress, and additional measures to address stress, anxiety, and safety on campus, the release reports.
Delaware State University will use its funding to develop a Mental Health First Aid Education Program, pay overtime expenses for counselors, law enforcement officers and social workers, and train staff to work on the Campus Mobile Crisis Team, according to the release.
Howard University will hire two case managers for wellness visits and to contact families "on an as-needed basis," as well as a field training specialist for security training; and Texas Southern University plans to use its grant to enhance access to mental health services through in-person and tele-mental health options for one year and to hire a project coordinator to manage the project, the release reports.
Previous Project SERV grants have been awarded to Tougaloo College in Mississippi; Fayetteville State University in North Carolina; Southern University Law Center in Louisiana; Tennessee's Fisk University; Coppin State University in Baltimore, Md.; North Carolina Central University; Philander Smith College in Arkansas; and Hampton University in Virginia, according to the release.
Additional grants are expected to be awarded in the coming weeks, the release reports, and the EDU will continue to assist impacted HBCUs in the application process.
Cardona said in the news release said the bomb threats "traumatized their campus communities, disrupted learning, and drained resources by prompting costly campus lockdowns, class cancellations, and law enforcement activities.”
“The Biden-Harris administration will always stand by HBCUs and unequivocally condemn racist efforts to terrorize Black students and educators and deprive them of their right to safe, welcoming, and nurturing environments for teaching and learning," Cardona said.