Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Congressman Ben Chandler (D-KY6) announced Thursday that Congress passed legislation making Kentucky State University eligible for federal funding for its graduate programs. The Higher Education Reauthorization and College Opportunity Act of 2008, which now goes to the President for his signature, will give Kentucky State a minimum of $500,000 per year for the next six years to help grow its graduate programs in the area of science.
Kentucky State, under the leadership of Dr. Mary Evans Sias, enjoys a proud heritage as the Commonwealth's only Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Chartered by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1886, Kentucky State is one of the 15 original HBCU's recognized in the historic Morrill Act of 1990.
For several decades, the federal government has provided grants to a limited number of HBCU's listed in the Higher Education Act for graduate programs. Until last year, Kentucky State was not included on this list. Last year, the Senate passed Senator McConnell's amendment to the Higher Education Act, making Kentucky State eligible for graduate program funding. With Congressman Chandler's strong support, the Higher Education Reauthorization and College Opportunity Act of 2008 passed the House.
"Over the past two years, I have worked with Dr. Sias and officials at Kentucky State University to help strengthen the school's growing graduate programs," Senator McConnell said. "I also want to applaud Congressman Chandler for his continued support to help make this happen, and I have enjoyed working with him on this issue."
"Senator McConnell's leadership was essential in obtaining this result for KSU, and it was a privilege working with him," Congressman Chandler said. "KSU is a treasure to the Commonwealth, and it is an honor for me to represent them in the Sixth Congressional District. Senator McConnell and I both are very interested in the success of KSU and look forward to seeing what this federal funding can achieve for this great university."
"I would like to publicly thank our congressional delegation on behalf of Kentucky State University for working untiringly to get our graduate programs added to the Higher Education Reauthorization bill. Our Aquaculture and Environmental Sciences masters programs will benefit from this legislation for decades to come, and our communities will benefit from a new generation of KSU graduates of these programs," Dr. Sias said. "I want to especially thank Senator McConnell for his leadership on our behalf in the Senate, Representative Chandler for his continued support and guidance, and Representative Yarmuth for his work on the House Education and Workforce Committee."
###
