Thursday, May 1, 2003

Senate Backs Bill to Establish Technology Grants for Colleges Serving Minorities By DAN CARNEVALE Washington The U.S. Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that would create a $250-million grant program to help minority-serving institutions install digital and wireless technologies on their campuses. The vote in favor of the bill, S. 196, was 97 to 0. Sen. George Allen, a Virginia Republican, sponsored the legislation. He has said it would help historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribal colleges to improve their technology infrastructures (The Chronicle, March 7). Under the bill, the National Science Foundation would oversee the grant program, which would receive authorization for five years. There has been no indication as to when the House of Representatives might take up the bill. If the bill is enacted into law, lawmakers may have trouble financing the grant program because Congress is facing severe deficits. Background articles from The Chronicle: Senate Panel Approves Technology Program for Colleges That Serve Minority Students (3/28/2003) Senators Urged to Back Technology Program for Minority Colleges (3/7/2003) Easy-to-print version E-mail this article

Energy Dept. will open Los Alamos contract to competition Colleges have increased financial aid, mostly for higher-income students, report says German medical school gives scholars full access to hospital's Nazi-era records Fulbright Program to return to Afghanistan after 24-year hiatus American Mathematical Society recognizes 2 scholars Spring commencement speakers are announced by 27 colleges New Jersey Institute of Technology prohibits file sharing on its campus Senate backs bill to establish technology grants for colleges serving minorities In North Carolina, community colleges' and state's accounting systems are incompatible