STRENGTHENING HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OVERVIEW AND PURPOSE The Higher Education Act of 1965 was enacted by Congress in recognition of the need to assure the accessibility of a higher education to a diverse populous.  Its purpose was, and is, to strengthen accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) so they may continue their unique role in educating African-American, educationally disadvantaged and low-income students.  The program enables participating institutions to improve academic quality, strengthen administrative capacity, physical plants, and to establish endowment funds in order to achieve growth and self-sufficiency.  The activities benefit all university students and the educational institution consistent with the University’s strategic plan. Institutions of higher education legally designated as a historically Black college or university, a historically Black graduate institution, or qualified graduate program are the only entities eligible to apply.  The institution must have been established prior to 1964; has a principal mission of educating Black Americans; is legally authorized by the state; and is an accredited or pre-accredited institution. MISSION The Title III Program Office at Delaware State University (DSU) is committed to providing a mechanism for coordinating the activities designed to strengthen programs to retain and prepare students for high demand occupations and graduate study.  Also, it is continuing to strengthen programs, services, and activities in support of the University.  This includes monitoring goal achievement and the attainment of objectives, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and statues, articulating and clarifying the purpose of Title III to activity directors, and preparing and submitting reports to the U.S. Department of Education as required. The Title III programming efforts support the University’s mission of strengthening and improving programs approved by the administration that increase retention and the graduation rate; and, that expand programs that educate undergraduates in the Liberal Arts, professional studies, and technical/scientific arenas in order to provide an education for the people of the State of Delaware, the region, and the world.    TITLE III ACTIVITIES  DSU has been awarded the Title III grants since 1965.  These Federal grant programs have funded millions of dollars of initiatives that fall within the scope of the Legislative Allowable Activities (LAA) as set forth by the United States Department of Education.  The approved activities must impact one or more of the specified “Focus Area Outcomes.”  The categories are as follows:  FOCUS AREA OUTCOMES                     Academic Quality Fiscal Stability Institutional Management Student Services and Outcomes The Title III grants awarded to DSU are given below: HBCU—HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES UNDERGRADUATE GRANT:  1965 – PRESENT HBGI—HISTORICALLY BLACK GRADUATE INSTITUTIONS GRANT:  2009 – PRESENT SAFRA—STUDENT AID AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT GRANT:  2010-PRESENT All Funded Activities are to align with specified goals and objectives in the “University’s Strategic Plan.”  Each grant is awarded in five (5)-year cycles; and, each grant has its yearly application, reporting, and monitoring requirements.  For more information about the Title III Program Office and its programming efforts, contact Ms. Veronica L. Hopkins, Title III Program Coordinator.