VSU President Responds to COVID III Legislation

19 Land-Grant Universities will receive assistance to stem rising emergency health and education costs.

VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY, VA – Council of 1890s Land-Grant Universities chairman and Virginia State University (VSU) president Dr. Makola Abdullah is applauding the House and Senate approval of the $2 trillion COVID III legislation. The legislation provides Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) approximately $1 billion in emergency assistance to help students and Universities cope with the COVID-19 health care crisis.

In a statement released today, President Abdullah called the legislation monumental and expressed his gratitude on behalf of all HBCUs. “I want to thank all of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for moving expeditiously to approve this legislation and address the growing crisis facing our country. Our students, faculty, and University communities around the country have been hit hard by this pandemic” says Abdullah. “We are grateful to U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA); Alma Adams (D-NC); James Clyburn (D-SC) and Karen Bass (D-CA) and U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ); Doug Jones (D-AL); and Tim Scott (R-SC) for leading the effort on Capitol Hill on behalf of HBCUs. We appreciate the tremendous work that they, their staffs and so many others are doing to help us fight the Coronavirus. We look forward to continuing to work together with Congress and the administration to address the many ongoing challenges facing our universities and students.” The legislation will provide financial relief to colleges and universities and also assist millions of students who have been affected by COVID-19. A portion of the funding must be used for support grants to assist displaced students.

The Council of 1890 Land-Grant Universities is a network of 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) dedicated to providing educational opportunity for all through innovative scientific research and community-minded extension programs. The 1890 Land-Grant universities are located in 18 states across the United States and will be celebrating 130 years of educating students in 2020.