Federal Agencies, Congress Mull Katrina Aid Packages
Initiatives aim to return students to the classroom, rebuild affected colleges and universities

By Charles Dervarics

With many Black colleges and other universities still reeling across the Gulf Coast, the Bush administration and African-American lawmakers are proposing new initiatives to rebuild facilities and return students to the classroom.

Action in Washington, D.C., is moving ahead on two fronts, with members of Congress offering high-cost reconstruction plans while federal agencies are funding more modest, targeted assistance. While much remains unresolved — including long-term funding in a tight fiscal climate — Gulf Coast education leaders say they are encouraged by the effort so far.

“The outpouring of support has been tremendous,” says Dr. Walter L. Strong, vice president for advancement at historically Black Dillard University in New Orleans. His institution is seeking $347 million to rebuild facilities and to support faculty and students displaced by the hurricane.

“We have been walking the halls of Congress looking to maximize flexibility and support,” he says. “The wheels of Washington turn slowly, but you have to stay at it.”

While many aid packages are still in the proposal stage, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is moving ahead with grant competitions for Gulf Coast HBCUs and other affected colleges.

Named Universities Rebuilding America Partnerships, the program includes $3.6 million solely for HBCUs, plus another $2 million competition for HBCUs and other colleges. For the larger pot of money, institutions can seek grants to fund clearance and demolition, rehabilitation activities, assistance to community-based organizations, public service activities, distance-learning programs and other community activities. Individual grants are being capped at $350,000.
The remaining $2 million is available for architectural partnerships involving higher education institutions.