The investment comes as the Houston HBCU prepares to celebrate its centennial and expand opportunities for its students.
Texas Southern University is set to receive $4.2 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Education’s Supplemental Historically Black Colleges and Universities Mandatory Grants program, per a news release.
Congressman Christian D. Menefee, who represents Texas’ 18th Congressional District, announced the funding on September 24, describing the investment as support for one of Houston’s longtime educational institutions and a source of opportunity for generations of students.
ESSENCE recently caught up with Menefee at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, where conversations around representation, economic opportunity and the future of Black communities took center stage. Now, his latest announcement brings that conversation home to Houston, with $4.2 million headed to Texas Southern University.
“TSU is a cornerstone of opportunity in the 18th Congressional District,” Menefee said in a statement. “For generations, it has opened doors for students, strengthened our Houston community, and produced incredible leaders who have made their mark in Texas and across the country.”
The funding is part of a federal program designed to provide additional resources to HBCUs to strengthen their institutions and expand educational opportunities for students. The Department of Education says its HBCU programs can support areas including physical infrastructure, academic resources, student services and other institutional needs.
For TSU, the investment arrives at a significant moment. The Houston university is approaching its centennial, and President James W. Crawford III said the funding will help advance the institution’s priorities around student success, workforce preparation, innovation and economic opportunity.
“Texas Southern University welcomes this significant federal investment in our students and our institution,” Crawford said. “As we approach our Centennial, these resources will strengthen our ability to advance student success, workforce preparation, innovation, and economic opportunity for Houston, Texas, and the nation.”
Founded in Houston’s Third Ward, TSU has long served as an anchor institution for the city and is one of the nation’s largest HBCUs. The university’s impact extends beyond its campus, with generations of alumni contributing to Houston and communities across the country.
The announcement also includes $4.5 million for Prairie View A&M University through the same program. Although PVAMU is outside Menefee’s congressional district, the congressman’s office pointed to the university’s longstanding ties to Houston, including its large network of students, alumni and families in the city.
The additional federal support comes as HBCUs continue to rely on federal programs designed to strengthen institutional capacity. The Department of Education’s Title III HBCU programs provide funding intended to support institutional resources and educational opportunities at eligible historically Black colleges and universities.
For TSU, the $4.2 million adds another investment to an institution preparing to mark 100 years of educating students and shaping Houston’s cultural, economic and civic landscape.
