Texas HBCUs Awarded $8.7 Million in Federal Mandatory Grants
Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University have been awarded a combined $8.7 million in federal grant funding through the U.S. Department of Education. Announced by U.S. Rep. Christian D. Menefee on Sept. 24, the funds stem from the Supplemental Historically Black Colleges and Universities Mandatory Grants program.
Two prominent Texas historically Black institutions have secured a combined $8.7 million in federal grant funds through a U.S. Department of Education initiative, according to reporting by HBCU Gameday. The distribution provides critical federal assistance to Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University under the Supplemental Historically Black Colleges and Universities Mandatory Grants program. This federal mechanism is tailored to bolster institutional infrastructure, improve student outcomes, and expand broad educational offerings across recipient campuses.
According to details reported by HBCU Gameday, Texas Southern University will receive $4.2 million of the awarded funds. Located in Houston's historic Third Ward, Texas Southern stands as one of the largest HBCUs in the United States. The university falls within Texas's 18th Congressional District, represented by U.S. Rep. Christian D. Menefee, whose office formally announced the federal grant distributions on Sept. 24. Texas Southern University President James W. Crawford III emphasized the timeliness of the financial grant as the university prepares for its upcoming milestone, HBCU Gameday reported.
Crawford stated that as Texas Southern approaches its centennial, these federal resources will significantly strengthen the institution's ability to advance student success, workforce preparation, campus innovation, and economic opportunities for Houston, the state of Texas, and the nation as a whole. Representative Menefee commended Texas Southern for its vital role in the community, calling the Tigers a source of pride for the 18th Congressional District, according to HBCU Gameday. Menefee noted that the $4.2 million investment will help build on the university's distinguished legacy while bringing federal resources back home to uplift students and fortify one of the country's great HBCUs.
Prairie View A&M University will collect $4.5 million through the same Supplemental Historically Black Colleges and Universities Mandatory Grants program, as reported by HBCU Gameday. While Prairie View A&M is situated outside the physical boundaries of Texas's 18th Congressional District, Representative Menefee's office highlighted the institution's longstanding ties to Houston through its student body, alumni base, and local family connections. The announcement from Menefee's office also paid tribute to the late U.S.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who represented the 18th Congressional District for nearly three decades and maintained a strong history of federal support for Prairie View A&M, according to HBCU Gameday. Combined, the $8.7 million in federal grants brings substantial financial backing to two of Texas's flagship public HBCUs, HBCU Gameday reported. Although Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M are well known as athletic rivals within the Southwestern Athletic Conference, these grant funds are designated strictly for institutional development, student support, and academic growth rather than sports programs.