To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional uses of funds for grants to strengthen historically Black colleges and universities, and for other purposes.

This bill expands how historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) can use existing federal “strengthening” grants. It allows funding for arts, arts education, and culture—like student aid, mentorship and career advising, preserving and protecting Black art collections, and paid internships or fellowships through nonprofit arts partners. The bill cites the value of the arts, low diversity in museums, and long-term underfunding of HBCUs as reasons for these changes.

• Who is affected: HBCUs and students in arts, arts education, and cultural programs.
• What changes: Grants could support student financial help; outreach and development for arts departments; wraparound services like mentoring, work-based learning, counseling, and career advice; exhibiting and safeguarding Black art; and well-paid apprenticeships, internships, and fellowships with nonprofit arts and cultural groups. HBCUs could also partner with the National Endowment for the Arts to carry out these activities. “Arts” is defined broadly to include performance, literary, visual, graphic, plastic, and decorative arts.
• When: The text adds these allowed uses; no specific dates are stated in the document.