Virginia State University has been awarded the $3 million U.S. Department of Education’s Historically Black College or University (HBCU) Master’s Degree Program Award. The total will be paid in $500,000 increments over a six-year period and will fund the VSU School of Engineering, Science and Technology’s biology, computer science and mathematics Master’s programs.

The goal of VSU’s HBCU Master’s Degree Program is to strengthen each graduate program and enhance the educational opportunities of graduate students, particularly African American and low income students.

Funding from the HBCU Master’s Degree Program Award will accomplish several activities throughout the project period, including purchasing equipment and software; financial assistance for graduate students; enhancing management information systems; student service programs; faculty and student professional development; additional graduate course offerings; and improving instructional and research facilities.