The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is soon going to pitch for doubling Pell Grants so Black and other minority students consider attending college an attractive option despite the widespread economic havoc caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
A UNCF spokesman said the group is happy the Department of Education on Thursday said it has made available the $1 billion-plus allocated to minority-serving institutions (MSIs), including HBCUs, by the coronavirus stimulus package under the CARES Act. Still, said UNCF’s Lodriguez Murray, more needs to be done for marginalized communities.
Murray said evidence shows that minority communities, especially African Americans, have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Therefore, he said, Congress should make a proportional investment in these communities.
“So, reduce the disparity in education and health care,” said Murray, UNCF’s senior vice president for public policy and government affairs. “So, double the Pell grants and research and development money for minority health professionals … so [that] young students can say, ‘I think I can go to college now despite COVID-19 impacting my family’s life.’ Pell Grant doubling will make education more attractive.”
Murray called education “a trampoline” and cited studies that show Black students “with an HBCU credential earn a million dollars more in their lifetime” than those without one. Therefore, he said, in this time of pandemic, it is important to pay them special attention. It will also, he said, “help increase the pipeline for minority healthcare professionals” and also increase their purchasing power.
The call for doubling Pell Grants is then going to be the next COVID-19 battle cry for UNCF, and likely for other MSIs.
“We want to make sure that despite the good news of yesterday that institutions that have been historically underinvested in by governments — federal and state — and philanthropy, don’t get left behind,” said Murray.
