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Adds arts and culture activities that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) may carry out under the Higher Education Act and authorizes HBCUs to partner with the National Endowment for the Arts. The change explicitly permits new activities such as targeted financial aid for arts students, outreach and development offices, wraparound student services, stewardship of Black art collections, and paid apprenticeships/internships, and it defines the term "arts."
Redesignates existing paragraphs (14) and (15) of subsection (a) as paragraphs (19) and (20), respectively.
Adds paragraph (14): Authorizes providing financial and other assistance to students in arts, arts education, and cultural programs.
Adds paragraph (15): Authorizes establishing outreach programs and development offices for arts, arts education, and cultural departments.
Adds paragraph (16): Authorizes providing comprehensive wraparound services for arts, arts education, and cultural students, including faculty and peer mentorship, work-based learning opportunities, guidance counseling, and career advising.
Adds paragraph (17): Authorizes exhibiting, maintaining, monitoring, and protecting Black art collections in exhibition and in storage.
Primary effects will fall on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), their students, faculty, and campus arts programs. HBCUs gain explicit authority to offer targeted financial aid and to create or expand outreach/recruitment, student-support services, paid apprenticeships and internships, and collections stewardship activities. Students in arts programs are likely to benefit from more financial aid options, career-pathway opportunities, and wraparound supports. Faculty and campus administrators may see new programmatic responsibilities and opportunities to partner with the NEA or other funders. Local communities and cultural audiences could see increased public-facing exhibitions, performances, and arts programming connected to HBCU collections and initiatives. Because the text authorizes activities rather than funds them, the practical impact will depend on whether HBCUs and their partners secure grants, NEA support, or other resources to implement the new activities. Administrative work for compliance, program setup, and partnership agreements will be required at participating institutions.
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced April 7, 2025 by Alma Adams · Last progress April 7, 2025
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Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House