Posted on October 10, 2006

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Mott Foundation Awards $1 Million to Historically Black Colleges in New Orleans

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in Flint, Michigan, has announced $1 million in grants to Dillard and Xavier universities in New Orleans, both of which were severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

With the schools struggling to retain and recruit new students, each will receive $500,000 for campus reconstruction projects and scholarships. Dillard will use its grant to help build a $4.9 million fund to provide up to 1,600 students with incentive scholarships based on need, while Xavier will set aside $400,000 for reconstruction projects and $100,000 to provide financial aid to students. Because more than 60 percent of Xavier students major in the sciences, officials there have identified the reconstruction of laboratories, classrooms, and offices in science departments as most critical to its recovery. In December 2005, the Mott Foundation also made a $1 million grant to the Southern Education Foundation to assist Dillard and Xavier in the initial stages of their recovery.

"These historically black universities have been recognized again and again for their academic excellence," said Maureen H. Smyth, the foundation's senior vice president of programs and communications. "They have met the enormous challenges of reopening their campuses, and their strong leadership will help them tackle the equally great challenges going forward. With our history of support to historically black colleges and universities, we are proud to provide this funding."

“$1 Million in Mott Grants Aid Katrina-Ravaged Black Colleges.” Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Press Release 9/28/06.

Primary Subject: Education
Secondary Subject(s): African Americans/Blacks, Higher Education, Hurricane Relief
Location(s): Louisiana, New Orleans

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