Arkansas HBCUs Receive $4 Million in Federal Funding, Philander Smith University Secures Over $1.1 Million
Philander Smith University, alongside other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Arkansas, has announced the receipt of approximately $4 million in additional federal funding. This allocation is part of a larger $174 million distribution from the U.S. Department of Education to HBCUs nationwide. Philander Smith University specifically received $1,139,146 from this one-time allocation. The announcement was made at a press conference on the Philander Smith campus, attended by Philander Smith University President and CEO Dr. Maurice D. Gipson, U.S. Rep. French Hill, and leaders from Arkansas Baptist College, Shorter College, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The funding aims to bolster the institutions' capacity to serve students and communities, particularly focusing on first-generation students, those with significant financial needs, and individuals seeking to complete their college education.