Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas) joined Huston-Tillotson University leaders, students, and Black Austinites to celebrate his office securing $850,000 for the university in this year’s Congressional budget.
Huston-Tillotson will use the $850,000 grant to renovate two residence halls and the 1960s student union.
“Huston-Tillotson is part of the beating heart of East Austin,” said Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas). “We want to make sure HT’s students can afford to live here. These students are the future leaders of Travis County.”
“Investing in our campus infrastructure is vital for providing students with a conducive learning environment. We are extremely grateful to Congressman Casar and others who were instrumental in securing this award for the renovation of our on-campus residence halls. This significant investment will enhance the overall student experience and contribute to our mission of maintaining an environment of academic excellence,” said Dr. Melva K. Wallace, president of Huston-Tillotson University.
“We are going from First to Foremost. With your support, we indeed forging ahead into a future where our students are not only first in our minds but foremost in our actions. Your dedication to education and student welfare serves as a shining example of positive change that can be achieved through philanthropy,” said Breyanna Jones, student government association vice president of Huston-Tillotson University.
“This funding is absolutely vital for our students. As a private institution, we don’t rely on public funds from the state. Being the oldest learning institution in Austin, it’s imperative that we upgrade our infrastructure to meet the needs of our students and faculty,” said Dianne T. Land, Trustee of Huston-Tillotson University. “This funding presents a crucial opportunity for us to make those necessary improvements.”
This federal funding was made possible through the Community Project Funding process for the Fiscal Year 2024 spending bills. Huston-Tillotson applied for the grant through Casar’s office last year. It was approved in the first round of the appropriations government funding packages that passed the U.S. House on March 6 and signed by President Joe Biden on March 9, 2024.
Congressman Greg Casar represents Texas’s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio. A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Casar serves as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 118th Congress. He also serves on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on Agriculture.
Huston-Tillotson University, the first institution of higher education in Austin, Texas, has roots dating back to 1875. HT is an independent, church-related, historically black, four-year liberal arts institution located on a 23-acre tree-lined campus near downtown in East Austin. Huston-Tillotson University’s mission is to nurture a legacy of leadership and excellence in education, connecting knowledge, power, passion, and values.
The University offers associate and master’s degrees in addition to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 19 areas of study. Huston-Tillotson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees. HT is also an NC-SARA school. For more information, please visit www.htu.edu
