Policies and Procedures

The Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGI) Program provides grants to assist institutions in establishing and strengthening their physical plants, development offices, endowment funds, academic resources and student services so that they may continue to participate in fulfilling the goal of equality of educational opportunity in graduate education. Subject to the availability of funds, the Secretary shall award program grants to institutions determined by the Secretary to be making a substantial contribution to the legal, medical, dental, veterinary, or other graduate education opportunities in mathematics, engineering, or the physical or natural sciences for Black Americans.

Allowable Activities (HBGIs)*

A grantee may carry out the following activities under this part:

Purchase, rental or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional or research purposes;

Construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services;

Purchase of library books, periodicals, technical and other scientific journals, microfilm, microfiche, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program materials;

Scholarships, fellowships, and other financial assistance for needy graduate and professional students to permit the enrollment of the students in and completion of the doctoral degree in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, law, and the doctorate degree in the physical or natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, or other scientific disciplines in which African Americans are underrepresented;

Establishing or improving a development office to strengthen and increase contributions from alumni and the private sector;

Assisting in the establishment or maintenance of an institutional endowment to facilitate financial independence pursuant to section 331 of the HEA, as amended;

Funds and administrative management, and the acquisition of equipment, including software, for use in strengthening funds management and management information systems;

Acquisition of real property that is adjacent to the campus in connection with the construction, renovation, or addition to or improvement of campus facilities;

Education or financial information designed to improve the financial literacy and economic literacy of students or the students’ families, especially with regard to student indebtedness and student assistance programs under Title IV of the HEA;

Services necessary for the implementation of projects or activities that are approved, in advance, by the Secretary, except that not more than two percent of the grant amount may be used for this purpose;

Tutoring, counseling, and student service programs designed to improve academic success; and

Other activities proposed in the application that contribute to carrying out the purposes of the HBGI program and are approved by the Secretary.

Unallowable Activities (HBGIs)*

Grantees may not carry out the following activities or pay the following costs:
- Activities not included in an approved application
- Activities that are inconsistent with any State plan for higher education
- Activities or services related to sectarian instruction or religious worship
- Activities provided by a school or department of divinity
- Developing or improving non-degree or non-credit courses other than basic skills courses
- Purchase of standard office equipment
- Payment of any portion of the salary of a president, vice president, or equivalent officer who has college-wide administrative authority and responsibility at an institution to fill a position under the grant
- Activities that are operational in nature rather than developmental in nature
- Costs of organized fund-raising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses to raise capital or obtain contributions
- Costs of student recruitment such as advertisements, literature, and college fairs
- Instruction in the institution’s standard courses
- Costs for health and fitness programs, transportation, and daycare services
- Student activities such as entertainment, cultural, or social enrichment programs, publications, social clubs, or associations.
 
*taken from Part 609Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions Program