If you are looking to start your own business but you are still in college, you will find that it can be difficult to afford all the things you need to get your business up and running. This is because there are many things that you will need to consider paying for from equipment to your office space and paying any employees that you hire.
To make things easier, we will discuss how you can get funding to start a business when you are still in college. Keep reading to find out more.
Make Sure You Look at Your Options
The first thing that you should do is make sure that you have a look at all your options that are available. This is a good idea because as a college student, you might not have the right capital to take out a loan. From loans to financing to grants, you will be able to see what each option can do for you and decide which one will benefit your business the most. There are some options that are better suited to college students.
Ask for Some Advice
The next thing that you should do if you are looking for funding to start up your business when you are still in college is to make sure you ask for some advice. It is important to look for advice when it comes to funding for your business and this is because it can help point you in the right direction and help you make the right decisions in order to make your business successful. Do you know someone who runs their own business? This might be a good place to start.
Apply for Funding
Another thing that you should do if you are looking to start your business while still in college is to make sure that you apply for funding as soon as possible. Small business funding is perfect for you because it allows you to get a cash injection that you can use to buy the essential items for your business. For instance, it can help to get the office space you need, equipment that you are looking for as well as much more so, if you are looking to apply for small business funding then, have a look at the options that are available.
Make Sure it is Affordable
When you have found a funding option that can help you, make sure you have a look and see if it will be affordable for you. This is because you will need to pay back what you use in a certain amount of time. If you are not able to pay this amount back in time it can cause you to get into debt. Remember that as a college student, you have other expenses such as your tuition loans so these will be additional costs.If you are hoping to start your own business as a college student, use our tips to get started.
(NEW YORK, NY) – May 1, 2020 – Culture Creators, an exclusive platform established to cultivate and highlight the achievements of diverse professionals in entertainment, has announced that its second installment of the C2 Summit Series will take place online as a virtual conference Monday, May 18 through Thursday, May 21, 2020.
Confirmed speakers include leaders from William Morris Endeavor,Live Nation, Morgan Stanley, MasterCard, Atlantic Records, Motown Records, Will Packer Films, Rap Snacks, and more. Steve Pamon, President/COOof Parkwood Entertainment will host the Summit’s first Culture Chat on Monday, May 18at 8:00 pm. A special discussion on college students and mental health during the pandemic will also take place.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural event in Washington, D.C., Morgan Stanley returns as a Summit partner to provide HBCU students with a four-day digital experience that includes panel discussions, one-on-one interviews, speed mentoring, culture chats and a pitch competition. Attendees can take advantage of employment opportunities as well as unparalleled access to job recruiters and seasoned influencers with various backgrounds in business, entertainment, technology, finance, and lifestyle.
New sponsor Microsoft & Microsoft Stores will deliver the C2 Summit virtual experience via Microsoft Teams — the hub for collaboration. Breakout sessions and activities will take place through Microsoft Teams and Channels, and keynotes will be hosted on Microsoft Teams Live Events. In addition to accessing professional development opportunities, Summit guests will receive guidance on using Microsoft Teams for their future careers.
The C2 Summit is FREE for college students. Sign up now at aka.ms/cc2020.
“The C2 Summit was truly designed with the college student in mind,” says Joi Brown, Culture Creators founder. “We wanted to create a holistic experience that addressed every need a student may have when embarking upon their career journey. Undoubtedly, there are very few programs that make high-level executives and influencers accessible in such an intimate, one-on-one setting. I’m grateful to Morgan Stanley, Microsoft and Microsoft Stores for sharing in our commitment to sow into these future creators in business and entertainment.”
“As an inaugural sponsor, Morgan Stanley is honored to again partner with Culture Creators for the C2 Summit.,” says Tiara Chesmer, Regional Diversity Officer, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. “The C2 Summit aligns seamlessly with our own core values: ‘Doing the Right Thing,’ ‘Leading with Exceptional Ideas,’ and ‘Giving Back.’ It’s vital that we pave the way for African American youth to have a voice in Wealth Management. As such, we are elated to seize the opportunity to empower these students to oversee their own personal finances and to encourage them to pass the torch within their own communities. As a multicultural woman, it’s not only my duty as a Diversity Officer but a personal passion as well to create more seats at the table. The C2 Summit allows for myself and my colleagues to interact with and encourage African American future executives to take the reins of their financial future and pave the way for generations to come.”
Deadline to register for the C2 Summit is May 12. Attendees will receive technical instructions for event keynote speakers and breakout sessions upon registration.
Dennis Richmond Jr. is continuing to beat the drum for historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, and next month he plans to drop some jewels on his journey in a new book. Richmond titled the book ‘He Spoke at My School: An Educational Journey,’ explaining that now is the best time to release his book. “I’m in a good space in life right now,” he told HBCU Buzz. He graduated from Claflin University with a B.A. in African and African American Studies in 2017, and he graduated with his Master of Science in Education from Sarah Lawrence College in 2019. “I am 25-years-old, I don’t pay a lot of bills, and I’m substitute teaching until I obtain my teaching certification in New York,” Richmond said. “So I believe that this is the perfect time for me to do this.” Check out the interview with Richmond below.
Tommy G. Meade Jr.: What do you want readers to gain from your story?
Dennis Richmond Jr.: Some people might consider this book an autobiography, and other people might think this book is a memoir. Regardless, when people read it, I want them to walk away with a sense of encouragement. My experiences through education changed my life, and there are lessons that I learned through it all that can inspire others. I share those lessons in this book. Some things are as simple as hard working paying off. Other experiences, such as people dropping in and falling out of your life, are a bit more complicated.
Tommy G. Meade Jr. What’s your fondest memory of the black college experience?
Dennis Richmond Jr.: My fondest memory of the Black College Experience was when I realized the power of an HBCU. I could go to any other HBCU campus, South Carolina State University, Howard University, Tennessee State University, and have something in common with students. It was powerful. I was a part of something larger than myself is amazing.
Tommy G. Meade Jr.: Name some topics that will be addressed in the book?
Dennis Richmond Jr.: There are a lot of small topics addressed in the book. Some of the more essential topics are Black history, dealing with bullying, and wanting to drop out of college. The book starts with a portion of my family history from the 1700s. You learn about my ancestors from my 6th great grandmother Margaret “Peg,” to my 2nd great grandfather John Sherman Merritt, to me. I faced bullying in middle school for being different, and I talk about that a lot. I also talk about wanting to leave school. I think a lot of college students have had that thought before.
Tommy G. Meade Jr.: You’re known for your efforts to raise awareness about historically black colleges to students in the New York area, given that these institutions aren’t present there. Why do you keep beating the drums for HBCUs?
Dennis Richmond Jr.: Right. I still beat the drum for HBCUs because of that very reason. There are no HBCUs in New York, so I make sure that as many students as possible know about them. It is imperative that when high school guidance counselors talk about colleges, they talk about all colleges. You wouldn’t want to walk into a restaurant and learn that there’s only one thing on the menu. It’s the same with the college process. You should learn about different types of colleges, not just community colleges or schools in your particular state.
Tommy G. Meade Jr.: What sets you and your journey apart from the rest of the crowd?
Dennis Richmond Jr.: Going back to question number two about my fondest memory in college would answer this question. While I was a student at Claflin University, another fond memory that I have, and something that sets my journey apart from the rest of the crowd, was when I was awarded a scholarship. This scholarship wasn’t your regular scholarship. Back in 2015, I was awarded a $25,000 scholarship from the United Negro College Fund, UNCF. Not only did that scholarship change my life, but because I was one of the recipients of the award, I was featured on Black Entertainment Television, BET.
My journey resulted in a life-changing experience. A woman saw me on BET, and I ended up speaking at an event in my hometown of Yonkers, New York, and I got paid for it. Thanks to that same woman and some others with that organization, I also had a paid internship. The story goes on and on. That one scholarship changed my life forever. I would have never received that scholarship, had it not been for attending an HBCU.
Tommy G. Meade Jr.: Any advice for those planning to go to HBCU in the future?
Dennis Richmond Jr.: Of course. Where should I begin? I’m going to keep it simple. No matter what happens in life, and I do mean, no matter what happens in life, work hard. You might not look better than the next person. You might not dress better than the next person. You might not even be as popular as the next person. If you can outwork them though chances are, people will gravitate to you first. Especially if they know, you can help them.
Dennis Richmond, Jr., M.S.Ed., is a 25-year-old HBCU graduate from Yonkers, New York, and a contributor to HBCU Buzz.
Feel free to follow me on social media. My Instagram and Twitter are both @NewYorkStakz.
So it makes sense that people would want to claim her. And they have. Online if you search Debbie Allen and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, you’ll see that she is listed as a member of the historically Black sorority.
During the interview, host Tracy Clayton shared that there is much debate about whether or not Allen actually pledged. She laughed before sharing what happened in her quest to become an AKA.
Tracy Clayton: Are you aware that there is a conversation on the internet about whether or not you pledged any sorority and if so, whether it was Delta or AKA. Is that something that you’re conscious of?
Debbie Allen: Laughs I’m not aware of the conversation but I’m aware of it every time I’m in the company of multiple Black women who go ooo [oop] or skee wee. And they talk to me.
So, when I was at Howard University, my sister Phylicia Rashad, whose footsteps I was following everywhere pledged AKA. So, I was going to pledge AKA. I went and I made line. Oh my interview, I just remember it. I was so sharp, they thought I was schooled or I don’t know what. They were gunning for me. They were going to really let me have it. But my mother, Vivian Ayers, said, ‘If you pledge a sorority, then I’m going to take all the money that I have saved to send you to dance school in the summer and I’m going to buy a car. Because your consciousness is not in the right place. Your focus is off. And I’m like, ‘No mom, no.’ So I dropped out of line. So I never did pledge and I went to the New London Dance Festival where I met Alvin Ailey, where I met the protégée of Katherine Dunham, I met Twyla Tharp, Martha Graham. I met the greatest icons in the dance world and momma was right. Read the full story by Veronica Wells on Madame Noire.
The Green Bay Packers have added a couple Black-college players to their roster.
Not one, but two players will join Green Bay on the field! Prairie View A&M’s (PVAMU) Jalen Morton and Jordan Jones are the newest to receive free agent deals, as shared by PVAMU Panthers Head Football Coach, Eric Dooley.
Morton, PVAMU’s quartback and Jones, tight-end/H-back have made it to the next step of their dreams, despite the HBCU NFL combine being cancelled.
Morton, nicknamed “J-Mo” is a native of Arlington Texas and shares that his father Jarrett inspired him to pick up the football. The 6’4, 226-pound leader of his team threw more than 4,000 yards and scored 33 touchdowns over his last two seasons, while rushing over 1,200 yards on the ground and six rushing scores. Fun fact: Morton is studying to be an engineer, throws 100 yards, and lives his life according to Proverbs 28:1.
Jones, nicknamed “Jay” is a 6’1 250-poind senior hailing from Frisco Texas. Jones’ says his mother actually inspired him to play football and if he wasnt on the field, he’d likely be on a basketball court. When he entered the football program at PVAMU, Jones said that in 5 years, he saw himself in the NFL. Dreams manifested! The redshirt senior transfer from Grambling State achieved a career-high of 28 passes for 497 yards and six scores at Prairie View last season. When he isn’t throwing and catching, Jones loves drawing and cooking.
We are excited for both of these statistics-breaking, educated, young black men. Congratulations Jalen and Jordan!
The competitive renewal represents the third 5-year award for the center, which has secured $89.8 million in research funding over 15-years for its member institutions: Georgetown University, Howard University, MedStar Health Research Institute, the Washington DC VA Medical Center and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Led by principal investigators Joseph Verbalis, MD, from Georgetown University and Thomas Mellman, MD, from Howard University, the mission of GHUCCTS is to advance research and training with excellence, innovation, collaboration, and efficiency while realizing the potential of the unique capacities of its constituent institutions for developing new technologies, promoting ethical clinical and translational research, and engaging the diverse populations of our communities that have been historically underrepresented in clinical research, including people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, people with disabilities, and older adults.
“One of the major missions of GHUCCTS has been to stimulate and support the growth of team science,” says Verbalis, a professor of medicine at Georgetown. “Advances in solving the complex and challenging health problems we face today can be achieved more quickly and efficiently by collaborations among investigators from different scientific disciplines working together on common problems.”
“GHUCCTS was built on a unique model of co-leadership between Georgetown and Howard University, a Historically Black University,” says Mellman, a professor of psychiatry at Howard. “The partnership has influenced prioritizing health disparities and diversity in our training and research missions. Diversity of institutional cultures and of the disciplines represented in our programs has been a founding and enduring strength of GHUCCTS.”
As one of 60 national CTSA programs, GHUCCTS has transformed research in the greater Washington DC region. Verbalis and Mellman along with faculty members from all of the GHUCCTS institutions and numerous collaborators across the region have achieved impressive goals over the last 10 years, including:
created an academic home for clinical and translational scientists and trainees;
provided training and education programs to support the full lifespan of an investigational career, including support for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty members;
established an efficient local trial innovation team to partner with the CTSA Trial Innovation Network in order to speed completion of multi-center clinical trials that will get more treatments to more patients more quickly.
With this new award, GHUCCTS will continue to develop and promote innovative clinical and translational science research to improve the health of the greater Washington DC population.
Tuskegee University’s engineering researchers will oversee the testing and evaluation of additively manufactured parts for NASA’s artemis lunar lander.
NASA’s ambitious Artemis program will see two astronauts returning to the surface of the moon for the first time since Apollo 17 touched down in December of 1972. To achieve this by 2024, the U.S. space agency has commissioned three private aerospace companies to design and manufacture human landing systems (HLS) for the mission. SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Dynetics, a subsidiary of Leidos, have begun working on conceptualizing their human carriers which the astronauts will use to land on and take off from our lunar neighbor.
Within the Dynetics team is a number of smaller subcontractors that will play specific but crucial roles in the development of Dynetics’ HLS – one of which is Tuskegee. As the project’s only university-based team of academics, Tuskegee University’s engineering researchers will oversee the testing and evaluation of additively manufactured parts for the lunar lander.
Kim Doering, vice president of Space Systems at Dynetics, said, “Dynetics is excited to lead this expert team of subcontractors that will return Americans to the lunar surface. This team has a proven history of technical excellence, and their contributions will greatly benefit the future of space exploration.”
The Tuskegee team will carry out tensile and fatigue testing on the lander’s 3D printed components, evaluating their quality, durability, and suitability for the harsh environments outside of Earth’s atmosphere. The researchers will also be carrying out metallurgical evaluations from scratch, as 3D printed materials and parts carry new challenges in their standardization and certification. The studies will help establish the currently unknown relationships between the microstructure, processing, and properties of the 3D printed parts.
Dr. Heshmat Aglan, dean of Tuskegee’s College of Engineering, explains: “Tuskegee University is proud to join this illustrious team helping the nation land astronauts on the moon by 2024. Our College of Engineering’s state-of-the-art facilities in additive manufacturing and materials processing and characterization have placed us in a strong position to join such a significant undertaking. This project provides real-time engineering opportunities as the College of Engineering educates the next generation of scientists and engineers.” Read the full story.
The Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) has launched a new 5-week online summer initiative in Biotechnology.
The course bridges the disciplines of biotechnology and bio-entrepreneurship. The course also creates a pipeline to MSM’s one-year online Master of Science in Biotechnology.
The 5-week summer program is tuition free! After completion, participants may also qualify for a financial stipend and be eligible for a scholarship if they choose to pursue a Master of Science in Biotechnology at MSM. Full details and information are available online. Program details include:
The Office of Online Education and Expanded Program offers a 5-week summer program built to expose motivated college students and post-baccalaureate professionals to the biotechnology industry and bioentrepreneurship. The program structure is built on an integrated curriculum of perfecting communication skills, career readiness tools and transforming biological processes into products. Participants who successfully complete this 5-week summer program are guaranteed admission into the Master of Science in Biotechnology (MS Biotech) degree program, along with a $1,000 scholarship from the United Negro College Fund.
The Master of Science in Biotechnology degree provides a foundation in the scientific and business components needed to advance biotechnologies. The goal of the MS Biotech program is to develop comprehensive knowledge in bioscience, core technologies, analytical methods, regulatory affairs and business development used to support biotechnology enterprises. This 35-credit hour, 12-month online degree is devised to give working professionals the flexibility to pursue advanced training in biotechnology by offering comprehensive coursework and training needed for career advancement.
For more information and eligibility requirements, visit the Bridges to Biotechnology Pipeline Program website.
Celebrity HBCU alumni join in the conversation cheering Bridges on. FAMU grad Will Packer shares “It’s your time! 🙌🏾” and Morehouse grad Shaun King says “congrats!! You got this!!” Keisha Knight Pulliam, who graduate from the all-female college also chimed in saying “I’m soooo excited!!! My little Spelman sister 🙌🏾💙🙌🏾💁🏾♀️.”
Following the nods of congrats from celeb friends and family, the comments are swarmed with blue hearts, Spelman alumni and prospective students, welcoming and joining the excitement of Bridges’ next chapter.
Florida A&M University (FAMU) will receive an additional $26.3 million in federal stimulus funding set aside to assist historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to help offset losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are extremely appreciative of the work of Congressman Al Lawson and his congressional colleagues who made this funding available,” said FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “FAMU, along with the other recipients of these funds, face formidable financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These resources will help bridge the gap and allow us to address critical student success initiatives.”
U.S. Rep. Al Lawson
FAMU has received $6.5 million of an expected $13 million in CARES Act funding to assist students hurt financially by the pandemic. The remaining $6.5 million is in the pipeline to assist the University to make up losses caused by the disruption that emptied residence halls and campuses across the country.
U.S. Rep. Al Lawson (FL-05) on Monday announced that FAMU is among four North Florida colleges and universities who will receive a total of $29,443,491. The money is part of $1.4 billion set aside to assist HBCUs and institutions serving low-income students.
“Colleges have been hit hard by this pandemic and have had to make changes to the way they deliver education,” Rep. Lawson said. “Congress has taken swift action to support the students and institutions to ensure they emerge from this crisis stronger than before.”
Colleges may use the funds to pay for technology associated with a transition to distance education, grants to cover the costs of attendance for eligible students, and faculty and staff training. Additionally, funds may be used to cover operational costs, such as lost revenue, reimbursements for prior expenses and payroll.
Area colleges receiving funds are Edward Waters College: $2,348,835; Florida Gateway College: $73,484; Florida State College Jacksonville: $711,841. This article was originally shared to the FAMU Newsroom.
Throughout their shared history, the athletic departments of Division I’s historically black colleges and universities, many of which compete in the SWAC and MEAC, have always faced concerns regarding financial difficulties and underfunding.
In some sense, this is nothing new.
“We’ve had to deal with a copious amount of revenue struggles for over a century. At some places, for over a century and a half,” MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas told The Athletic last week.
“We’ve been able to survive when most people didn’t think we would. And in most cases, not only have we survived, we’ve thrived. We are used to difficult times…”
But, Thomas said after a long pause, “… nothing like this now.”
HBCU athletic departments already live in a harsh reality, but that outlook is even bleaker as the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to stress their institutions beyond the breaking point. Read the full story.
The Maryland congressional delegation announced Tuesday that more than $46 million in additional funding is being released to mostly historically black colleges and universities to help relieve the financial strain that the coronavirus left on institutions.
The delegation, which included U.S. Maryland Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, said $44 million will go to HBCUs. The remaining $2 million will be awarded to minority-serving institutions and colleges serving large populations of low-income students. Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone also helped with the funding.
The additional aid will supplement the previous $170 million many of these universities and colleges received, the delegation said in a news release.
Morgan State University is receiving over $19 million and Bowie State University nearly $13 million. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Coppin State University are also receiving about $8 million and $4 million, respectively.
Nine community colleges are receiving a little over $1 million, and there is about $600,000 for public and private nonprofit schools. Read the entire story.
Like father, like son! Aris Brown will continue in his legendary father’s footsteps, being an athlete at the collegiate level.
The son of Jim Brown, perhaps the best running back in NFL history, recently announced he will play lacrosse for Hampton University.
Midfielder Aris Brown, 18, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound four-year starter for Sierra Canyon High in the Los Angeles area, said on Instagram, “I’d like to thank God, my family, friends, and coaches for helping me through the way.” Sierra Canyon is the school where the sons of NBA greats LeBron James and Dwyane Wade play basketball.
On the Instagram Post, Brown was wearing a mask while signing his papers for HU. He’s the 15th player in Hampton’s 2020 class, according to lacrossebucket.com.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_tQOtIpfE3/
“I really liked the school as a whole, and wanted to play competitive lacrosse with kids that look like me and make some history,” Brown told Lacrosse Bucket.
Jim Brown, who starred in lacrosse and football for Syracuse before a record-setting career from 1957-65 with the Cleveland Browns, is in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jim Brown has been quoted through the years as saying he thought lacrosse was his best sport, though in 2002, The Sporting News named him the greatest pro football player in history. Read the full story.
RALEIGH, NC — Saint Augustine’s University School of Business, Management, and Technology (SBMT) has announced the formation of the first HBCU cycling team in the country via the Department of Sport Management. This team is a club sport within the SBMT. The team has recently been approved and registered by USA Cycling to compete in the collegiate club Atlantic division against dozens of other schools in the Southeast.
The team, which has been in the works since the summer of 2019, will be coached by professors Umar Muhammad and Dr. Mark Janas, both of whom teach sport management courses within the business school at Saint Augustine’s University. The team will begin competition as early as Fall 2020.
“We’re excited to be the first HBCU to formally have a collegiate cycling team,” says Muhammad who continues, “What many may not realize is that while cycling might be new to most HBCU’s, African Americans have made huge contributions to the sport of cycling. In fact, cycling’s first superstar, and arguably sport’s first international superstar, was a black athlete named Major Taylor. This team plans to pay homage to Taylor, as well as make its own mark on the sport.”
The team plans to start with a roster of approximately ten student-athletes, several of whom compete in other collegiate sports.
Dr. Janas adds, “We have the opportunity with this team to be part of several ‘firsts.’ In addition to launching the first HBCU cycling team, the virtual cycling events planned for the Fall will segue nicely into the new sports IT and esports management content offered in the business school.”
This is not just the beginning of a club sport but also a precursor to e-sport courses within the Department of Sport Management.
For more information about the Saint Augustine’s University cycling team, please contact Umar Muhammad at utmuhammad@st-aug.edu or mjanas@st-aug.edu. This article was originally published to the SAU Newsroom.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced today that nearly $1.4 billion in additional funding will be directed to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), as well as institutions serving low-income students to help ensure learning continues during the coronavirus national emergency. This funding is part of the Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump less than five weeks ago.
“This Administration is committed to the success of HBCUs, Minority Serving Institutions, and the students they serve. Each institution is unique and is an important part of this country’s educational fabric,” said Secretary DeVos. “By providing additional support to these important institutions, we can help ensure they emerge from this crisis stronger than before. I encourage these institutions, like all others, to use these funds to provide emergency grants to students during this challenging time, and to expand remote learning programs and build IT capacity. These are challenging times, but if we take this opportunity to transform higher education to meet the demands of the 21st century, our nation’s students and higher education as a whole will be better for it.”
Institutions may use this funding to cover the cost of technology associated with a transition to distance education, grants to cover the costs of attendance for eligible students, and faculty and staff trainings. Additionally, funds may be used to cover operational costs, such as lost revenue, reimbursements for prior expenses, and payroll.
These additional funding allocations to MSIs, including HBCUs and TCCUs, and institutions eligible for the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) represent 7.5 percent of overall HEER funds, or around $1 billion. This funding is provided on top of the primary HEER Fund allocation announced earlier in April. HBCUs, for example, will collectively receive an additional $577 million through the awards announced today. That amount is on top of the $353 million amount that the Department allocated to HBCUs through the HEER Fund earlier in the month. TCCUs will receive over $50 million in this round of HEER funding, bringing the total allocation to TCCUs under the fund to $65 million.
The HEER Fund also sets aside 2.5 percent of the HEER Fund ($349 million) to address the greatest unmet needs related to the coronavirus, giving priority to schools that have not been allocated at least $500,000 from the fund. The Department is deploying these funds to ensure that every eligible public and private nonprofit institution will receive at least $500,000 in CARES Act relief funding.
In order to access these funds, eligible institutions must sign a Certification and Agreement certifying that they will use their allocations in accordance with the CARES Act and all other applicable federal law. Schools have until Aug. 1, 2020, to apply for the funds. The Certification and Agreement, a cover letter, and the HEER Fund allocation tables by institution are available on the Office of Postsecondary Education’s CARES Act website.
The Department has taken quick action to support higher education students from the start of the coronavirus outbreak. Colleges and universities were given immediate regulatory flexibility so students’ educations could continue online. Under the leadership of President Trump, the Department also provided student loan relief to tens of millions of borrowers by setting all federally held student loan interest rates to zero percent and allowing borrowers to defer payments for 60 days without interest. The CARES Act extends those benefits to six months. The Department also stopped all federal wage garnishments and collections actions for borrowers with federally held loans in default. Additionally, the Department made $6.2 billion available for emergency cash grants for higher education students, followed by $6.2 billion allocated to higher education institutions to ensure learning continues. The Department also disbursed $7 million to Gallaudet University and $13 million to Howard University in accordance with the CARES Act, which allocated this funding to help these unique institutions address the challenges associated with the coronavirus.
The Department continues to update www.ed.gov/coronavirus with information on COVID-19 for students, parents, educators and local leaders.
For more information about COVID-19, please visit the following websites: coronavirus.gov, <a href="https://cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htmlcdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html, and usa.gov/coronavirus.
Clark Atlanta University alumna Valeisha Butterfield Jones is appointed the first Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at The Recording Academy among the recommendations of the organization’s Task Force for Diversity and Inclusion. According to the announcement, she will join the executive leadership team responsible for advancing the Recording Academy’s mission and ensuring that diversity and inclusion are core to business values and standards, and demonstrated throughout the organization.
“We are thrilled to welcome Valeisha Butterfield Jones into the Recording Academy family,” said Mason. “Valeisha has been a force in driving systemic change and enhancing equal opportunities for underrepresented groups across entertainment, technology and politics. I’m excited to work with her to continue evolving the Recording Academy as an organization that represents our music community and a place where all voices are welcomed, supported and nurtured. We are so fortunate to have Valeisha’s leadership in this crucial area.”
Most recently, Butterfield Jones served as the global head of inclusion for Google, Inc. responsible for accelerating diversity, equity and inclusion outcomes for underrepresented communities internally and externally across the global brand. Prior to joining Google, she served as the national youth vote director for the Obama for America campaign, deputy director of public affairs for international trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Obama Administration, executive director at Rush Communications (encompassing the Russell Simmons-founded businesses Def Jam Enterprises, Baby Phat, Phat Farm and Hip-Hop Summit Action Network) and as the national director of diversity and inclusion for the Alzheimer’s Association. She began her career at HBO Sports.
While the timing of the announcement, which comes in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, seems unusual, the Task Force’s recommendations called for the role to be filled by May 1, 2020. The Task Force, which was founded in the wake of former Academy chief Neil Portnow’s controversial 2018 comment that female musicians and executives need to “step up” in order to advance in the music industry, submitted its recommendations in December.
“It’s imperative that the music industry continue to make strides toward a more equitable and inclusive industry, and I am pleased to see the Recording Academy take this important step toward change within its own walls today by appointing Valeisha Butterfield Jones as its first-ever Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer,” said Tina Tchen, chair of the Task Force and president and CEO of Time’s Up. “Creating this executive-level position was a principal recommendation of our Task Force because it is one significant way the Academy can demonstrate that issues of diversity are mission-critical and will be prioritized in the future.”
Butterfield Jones said, “The Recording Academy has an opportunity and responsibility to ensure that diversity and inclusion is embedded in its core values. I’m deeply honored to join the Academy as we enter a new chapter of transformational growth, leadership and change. During this unprecedented time in world history, together we will double-down on our focus to drive systemic change and equitable outcomes for underrepresented communities and creators.”
Butterfield Jones also co-founded the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN) in 2007, a nonprofit coalition of women and men committed to the balanced, positive portrayal of women in the entertainment industry. She also serves on the National Board of Directors of ColorComm, MC Lyte’s Hip Hop Sisters Network and iVote.
