After much work to get MSIs more technology funding, advocates face tough budget climate.

After many years of work to enact the bill — with an annual funding ceiling of $250 million — advocates now face the difficult task of finding federal dollars in a difficult budget climate. The Minority- Serving Institutions Digital Wireless program did not make it into the recent economic stimulus bill, but plans are underway to secure funding for the fiscal year that begins in October.

Congress created the program in last year’s Higher Education bill, but that legislation only authorizes the program at up to $250 million a year — it doesn’t provide actual funding. Educators must deal with that issue through Congress’ annual education spending bill.

“We will be working with the White House, the congressional leadership and the [House] Appropriations Committee to include it,” says Rep. Ed Towns, D-N.Y., a sponsor of the program. According to Towns, the problem is more severe now than it was in the past few years.

“The economic crisis has put a damper on the plans of most schools’ efforts to upgrade their facilities,” Towns says. “Unlike other, larger institutions of higher education, MSIs typically have small or nonexistent endowments and fewer wealthy alumni.” As envisioned by the legislation, funding would flow to the U.S. Department of Commerce, with funds available to Black colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions and tribal colleges.

With the authorization hurdle now finished, the United Negro College Fund says it will push for the maximum funding possible, says Edith Bartley, director of government affairs at UNCF. Bartley tells Diverse that she expects the issue will find a welcome audience at the White House and U.S. Department of Education.

“Technology is a major priority for the Obama administration,” she says, and the challenges facing Black colleges are particularly acute. With smaller endowments than many majority institutions, HBCUs face serious impacts from the economic slowdown, she notes. As a result, technology needs may go unfilled.