Latest news with #Strayhorn
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How could cuts to the Education Department impact HBCUs?
This story was originally published on Higher Ed Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Higher Ed Dive newsletter. Widespread cuts at the U.S. Department of Education and its potential closure stand to drastically harm the finances of historically Black colleges and universities — and perhaps even close some campuses, experts say. Following mass layoffs that have cut roughly half of the Education Department's staff, President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March directing the closure of the entire federal agency 'to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.' Several groups are challenging the order to shutter the agency. The nation's roughly 100 HBCUs receive billions each year from federal programs, including federal student aid — much of which flows through the Education Department, Terrell Strayhorn, director of research at the Center for the Study of HBCUs at Virginia Union University, said in a March interview. Institutions that rely on federal grants from the Education Department for research, campus improvements and student services could face financial insolvency, Strayhorn said. That could lead to deep program cuts, restructuring, layoffs, and, for the most vulnerable HBCUs, campus closures, he said. Much is still unknown about the impact of the Education Department's cuts or how the agency's closure would play out, Strayhorn said. But 'all scenarios seem to create harmful risks for HBCUs,' he said. Congress would have to authorize the total closure of the Education Department. However, the Trump administration has already cut hundreds of millions worth of the agency's grants and proposed massive reductions to its programs and services for the federal government's fiscal 2026 budget. 'This is more than just bureaucratic reshuffling — these cuts threaten the very presence and long-term sustainability of some HBCUs,' Strayhorn said. However, the Trump administration has also recently expressed support for HBCUs. An April 23 executive order stated HBCUs should have 'equal opportunities for participation in Federal programs.' It also created a board of advisors on HBCUs to 'increase the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest-quality education to an increasing number of students,' though such a panel existed before Trump's second term. Still, the mass layoffs at the Education Department have already disrupted some essential services on which HBCUs rely, particularly with grant processing and technical assistance, said Strayhorn. 'Cutting [the Education Department] is cutting student success,' Strayhorn said. The moves by the Trump administration are 'intentionally' wrecking 'beyond repair' functions undertaken by the Education Department, Denise Smith, deputy director of higher education policy and senior fellow at The Century Foundation, a left-leaning think tank, said in an interview in March. The cuts to the agency could disrupt millions of dollars in federal funding and loan programs for faculty hiring, campus infrastructure and student support services, including those for veterans, said Strayhorn. The Strengthening HBCUs Program, for example, provides direct financial support to those institutions to help them boost their academic, administrative, and financial capabilities, he said. The fate of that, and other programs are 'at risk,' he said. The Trump administration's fiscal 2026 budget proposal calls for eliminating federal funding for a similar grant program for colleges, called Strengthening Institutions, which the White House accused of being 'used to promote DEI, inconsistent with the Administration's priorities and Executive Orders.' The Minority Science and Engineering Improvement program supports STEM education at predominantly minority institutions. If that funding dries up, it could further marginalize Black scholars and limit opportunities for advanced STEM education, graduate studies and research, Strayhorn said. The Education Department's closure could also strip HBCUs of civil rights services — as the agency's Office of Civil Rights could either be defunded or moved under the U.S. Department of Justice, said Strayhorn. The Education Department in March shuttered seven of its 12 civil rights enforcement offices, letting hundreds of its employees go. Trump's budget proposal also calls for slashing OCR's funding by $49 million, which would amount to a 35% reduction. Gutting the department could also make it harder for HBCU students to secure financial aid and lead to more student loan borrowers entering into default, Strayhorn said. Other higher education experts have also voiced concerns about disruptions to student aid. Trump has shared plans to move the U.S.'s student loan portfolio from the purview of Federal Student Aid to the Small Business Administration. But it's still unclear whether student aid would be managed by SBA and if such a move could make applying for aid harder, said Strayhorn. Other programs could be impacted due to potential cuts in the workers who oversee them, or they are eliminated altogether, Strayhorn said. That includes Federal Work-Study, which provides part-time jobs to students with financial needs, and the Second Chance Pell program, which allows students who are incarcerated to receive federal financial aid to earn degrees through HBCUs and other colleges, To prepare for the cuts and potential loss in federal funding, some smaller HBCUs started contingency planning by identifying essential programs they operate and finding ways to ensure their continuity, said Strayhorn. Those institutions are also strategizing how to support students if their financial aid is disrupted, he said. A handful of colleges said they're also reviving and revisiting some of the strategies that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Strayhorn. For example, leaders are looking at implementing remote services, offering short-term payment plans to students for tuition, and are seeking new private-sector investments for grants that help students complete their credentials, he said. LeMoyne-Owen College, based in Memphis, Tennessee, launched a program that would pay back $20,000 each year to some of its graduates who are working but earn less than $45,000 annually. The program is partly funded through its endowment, according to local media. Institutions are also engaging with their state representatives so they can secure additional support for their facilities, Smith said. But, 'the historic underfunding at the state level raises serious concerns about whether states are willing to actually ensure these institutions receive support they need independent of federal assistance,' Smith said. HBCUs face federal losses from agencies other than the Education Department. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is among the 19 HBCUs established under the Morrill Act of 1890, which aimed to open land-grant colleges for African Americans in states that had discriminatory admissions policies at their existing land-grant institutions. But a loss or decline of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture could be devastating for such 1890 land-grant institutions. The Trump administration indefinitely paused the scholarship program for the institutions' students in February before reinstating it days later following public outcry. 1890 institutions also receive research and extension program funding from the federal government that states are required to match. Historically, many states have not matched the amount those historically Black institutions are owed — even while adequately matching funding levels for predominantly White land-grant institutions. Over the past three decades, 16 states have collectively underfunded their land-grant HBCUs to the tune of over $12 billion. Maryland alone owed the University of Maryland Eastern Shore $321 million during that time, according to a 2023 letter to the state's governor from the former secretaries of the Education and Agriculture departments. Since temporarily pausing the scholarship program, the Trump administration has signaled support for the 1890 land-grant institutions' funding, urging states to 'provide the required State matching funds,' in the April 23 executive order. A significant portion of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's resources come from grants issued by different departments across the federal government, such as the Agriculture Department, said Robert Vickers Jr., the university's vice president for strategic communications and marketing. And, like many HBCUs, the university operates on a tight budget. Any disruption in expected funding 'could have a massive effect on our ability to educate our students, to support our communities,' he said. University of Maryland Eastern Shore leaders are monitoring developments at the federal level, and consulting with their federal, state and local stakeholders so they are 'prepared to make sure that there are no significant interruptions of our normal operations,' said Vickers. 'But we're definitely concerned by what's happening,' Vickers added. 'Anything that would minimize the financial support that we get from the federal government could directly affect the American exceptionalism that we've been accustomed to for generations.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why are flags at half-staff in Texas? When they're raised again after Carole Keeton death
As you go about your day today, you may notice Texas flags flying at half-staff across the state. Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the flags at half-staff for the memorial of former Comptroller of Texas. Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset Friday, March 28, and should return to full-staff by sunrise Saturday. Former Austin Mayor, Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton dies and longtime public servant, known for breaking barriers in state and local government. She made history as the first woman elected as both the mayor of Austin and the Texas state comptroller. Throughout her career, Strayhorn was known for her independent streak, bold leadership, and commitment to fiscal responsibility. In addition to serving as Austin's mayor from 1977 to 1983, and then Railroad Commissioner from 1994 to 1999, she held office as Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts from 1999 to 2007. She also ran as an independent candidate for governor in 2006, challenging then-Gov. Rick Perry. Strayhorn was the mother of former White House press secretary Scott McClellan and came from a family deeply involved in public service. She died Wednesday at the age of 85. "Texas has lost a longtime leader and dedicated public servant with the death of Carole Keeton," a release from the governor's office states. "As a mark of respect for her public service as school board president, state insurance commissioner, mayor, railroad commissioner, and comptroller, it is fitting that flags be lowered to half-staff in her honor." There are specific holidays and events when flags are flown at half-staff in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website. That includes: Memorial Day, when the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. Patriot Day. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. National Firefighters Memorial Day. President Dwight Eisenhower also issued a proclamation on the proper times for flying the flag at half-staff when government officials die. That includes: 30 days at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions after the death of the president or a former president. 10 days at half-staff after the death of the vice president, the chief justice or a retired chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, or the speaker of the House of Representatives. From the date of death until interment for an associate justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Cabinet, a former vice president, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, or the minority leader of the House of Representatives. The date of death and the following day of a United States senator, representative, territorial delegate, or the resident commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It should also be flown at half-staff on all federal facilities in the state, congressional district, territory, or commonwealth of these officials. From the date of death until interment for the governor of a state, territory or possession. The president may also order that the flag be flown at half-staff to commemorate the death of other officials, former officials or foreign dignitaries, in addition to tragic events. For instance, on Oct. 7, Abbott declared Monday a statewide Day of Observance for Israel in Texas and asked residents to hold a moment of silence for the people of Israel and the seven Americans who remained hostages. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Why are flags at half-staff in Texas? Honoring Carole Keeton Strayhorn
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Austin Mayor Carole Keeton Strayhorn dies at 85
Trailblazing former Austin Mayor and Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn has died at 85, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson confirmed to the American-Statesman on Wednesday evening. "Carole Keeton was a historic figure in Austin and the state," said Watson, whose first stint as mayor came after Strayhorn was the first woman to hold that office. "Importantly, she gave so much of herself to the city and state she loved and to the people both as a community and individually." Strayhorn was Austin's mayor from 1977 until 1983. "She was a powerful personality that filled a room and pushed people to think about the future but also made you laugh at the drop of a hat," Watson said. Strayhorn, who was known as both Carole Keeton and Carole Keeton Rylander during her long public service career, died earlier Wednesday, Watson said. She served on the Texas Railroad Commission before being elected as the state's top financial officer in 1998. An irrepressible campaigner, Strayhorn was the first woman to lead Austin and the first to become Texas comptroller. A Democrat-turned Republican, Strayhorn made an ill-fated attempt to run for governor as an independent in 2006. This is a developing story, please check back for updates. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Former Austin Mayor, Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn dies
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Carole Keeton Strayhorn, first woman to serve as Texas comptroller, dies at 85
Carole Keeton Strayhorn, a trailblazing Texas politician who was the first woman elected for the roles of mayor of Austin and state comptroller, died Wednesday. She was 85. Strayhorn passed surrounded by her family in Austin, according to an obituary provided by her son, Scott McClellan. A dedicated Austinite, Keeton was born and raised in the city and attended the University of Texas at Austin. She served on the board of trustees for Austin Independent School District before becoming the city's first female mayor in 1977, serving three terms. Strayhorn served two terms as Texas Comptroller, from 1999 to early 2007. While running as a Republican for comptroller, toward the end of her tenure she ran an unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign as an independent against former Gov. Rick Perry during the 2006 election, where she referred to herself as 'one tough grandma.' We can't wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
