Title III · Jackson State University

DIVISION OF RESEARCH & FEDERAL RELATIONS

Title III

Institutional Aid — Title III Programs at Jackson State University strengthen academic programs, fiscal management, student services, and endowment through federal HBCU grants.

Welcome to Title III

Institutional Aid — Title III Programs

The Institutional Aid–Title III Program at Jackson State University provides administrative oversight to three grants, funded by the United States Department of Education. The first is the Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), the second is Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (HBCU-SAFRA), and the third is Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGI) Programs. These programs are designed to address specific developmental needs and to support strategic plan priorities of the University.

Title III funds are authorized under Part B, Sections 323 and 326 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. The HBCU, HBCU-SAFRA, and HBGI Programs assist Jackson State University in “equalizing educational opportunities” for the populations served by providing funds to strengthen the physical plant, financial management, academic resources, and endowment.

Grant funds are administered effectively to ensure that the goals of Title III and the University’s goal of guiding students in acquiring general, liberal, and professional education are achieved. A series of measurable objectives are being implemented through identified methods and strategies to achieve anticipated results approved by the United States Department of Education. Currently, 22 activities operate in the areas of financial management, academic and academic support programs, student services, and endowment.

Jackson State University’s Institutional Aid–Title III Programs are administered through the Division of Research and Federal Relations.

Title III Activities Regulations

Program: Institutional Aid — Title III
Administered by: Division of Research & Federal Relations
Office of the President
Mailing Address: Title III Programs
P.O. Box 17083
Jackson, Mississippi 39217
Phone: 601.979.2321
Email: titleIII@jsums.edu
Active Activities: 22 activities across all grants

Federal Grants

Three Title III grant programs

JSU administers three distinct federal grants under Title III, each targeting specific institutional needs and populations.

HBCU Program

Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities

📅 Program Period: 2017–2022

Authorized under Title III, Part B, Section 323 of the Higher Education Act. Addresses developmental needs and supports strategic plan priorities including student success, faculty development, institutional facilities, and endowment.

HBCU-SAFRA Program

Strengthening HBCUs — Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act

📅 Program Period: 2015–2020

SAFRA funding supports undergraduate instruction, engineering program enhancement, and the Bridge to the Future initiative to strengthen the overall undergraduate academic experience.

HBGI Program

Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions

📅 Program Period: 2019–2024

Authorized under Title III, Part B, Section 326. Supports STEM doctoral programs, graduate student scholarships, environmental science, computer science, business administration Ph.D., and civil/environmental engineering enhancement.

Current Title III grant portfolio

HBCU Grant
Active Projects

HBGI Grant
Active Projects

FUTURE Grant
Active Projects

These activities operate across key areas of the University, including academic quality, student services and outcomes, institutional management, and fiscal stability. Collectively, they strengthen, elevate, and advance the University’s long‑term goals. Title III Programs at Jackson State University are administered under the Office of the President, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and federal guidelines.

Title III Activities

Funded activities by legislative category

All activities are grouped by the Legislative Allowable Activity that authorizes them under the Higher Education Act.

Legislative Allowable Activity: Construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications and technology equipment or services.

HBCU Activity: Strengthening Institutional Facilities

SAFRA Activity: Strengthening the Institution’s Instructional Facilities

HBGI Activity: Strengthening Instructional Facilities

Legislative Allowable Activity: Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, and faculty fellowships to assist in attaining advanced degrees in the field of instruction of the faculty.

HBCU Activity: Faculty Development for Student Success

HBCU Activity: Enhancing Student Success through Faculty Field Experiences

Legislative Allowable Activity: Tutoring, counseling, and student service programs designed to improve academic success.

HBCU Activity: Establishing the Office of Student Success

HBCU Activity: Strengthening JSUOnline

HBCU Activity: Integrating Student Success through Leadership & Engagement

HBCU Activity: Integrating Art Across the Disciplines

HBCU Activity: Strengthening Student Wellness: Reducing the “Freshman 15”

HBCU Activity: Enhancing Student Success through Broadening Field Experiences

HBCU Activity: Enhancing Academic Success through Test Preparation for Graduate or Professional School

HBGI Activity: Strengthening Student Support for STEM Doctoral Programs

HBGI Activity: Establishing a Center for Environmental & Public Health Research, Training & Practice (RTP)

HBGI Activity: Enhancement of Ph.D. in Engineering Program — Civil Engineering & Environmental Engineering Concentrations

HBGI Activity: Establishing the School Administrators Leadership Academy (SALA)

HBGI Activity: Strengthening the Environmental Science Ph.D. Program

HBGI Activity: Advancing African Americans in Computer Science

HBGI Activity: Strengthening the Ph.D. in Business Administration Program

HBGI Activity: Enhancing Graduate Students Success through Broadening Field Experiences

Legislative Allowable Activity: Funds management, administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management.

HBCU Activity: Strengthening Student Success through Technology

Legislative Allowable Activity: Establishing or improving a development office to strengthen or improve contributions from alumni and the private sector.

HBCU Activity: Enhancing Student Success through Institutional Advancement

Legislative Allowable Activity: Establishing or improving an endowment fund.

HBCU Activity: Expanding the University Endowment

Legislative Allowable Activity: Services necessary for the implementation of projects or activities that are described in the grant application and that are approved, in advance, by the Secretary, except that not more than two percent of the grant amount may be used for this purpose.

HBCU Activity: Strengthening Staff Development and Talent Management

Legislative Allowable Activity: Academic instruction in disciplines in which Black Americans are underrepresented.

SAFRA Activity: Strengthening the Undergraduate Experience through the Bridge to the Future

SAFRA Activity: Strengthening the Undergraduate Engineering Program

Legislative Allowable Activity: Scholarships, fellowships and other financial assistance for needy graduate and professional students to permit the enrollment of the students in and completion of the doctoral degree in the physical or natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, or other scientific disciplines in which African Americans are underrepresented.

HBGI Activity: Establishing Scholarships & Financial Assistance for Graduate Students

Full Activities Page

Resources