The U.S. Department of Education has awarded grants totaling $26,164,627 to five post secondary institutions under the Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGI) program. The purpose of the HBGI program is to provide financial assistance to establish or strengthen the academic resources, endowment building capacity, management capabilities and physical plants of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In addition to the five new awards, the HBGI program will award continuation awards during FY 2012 to 19 qualified graduate programs, totaling $32,793,731. “In these tough economic times, HBCUs face many of the same challenges as other institutions of higher education,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “The grants will help these important institutions continue to provide their graduate students with the education they need to compete in this global economy.” The grant program is administered by the Office of Post secondary Education. For additional inf