SECTOR NEWS

Apple Launches $100 Million National HBCU Initiative for Racial Equity and Justice

Apple today announced a set of major new projects as part of its $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) to help dismantle systemic barriers to opportunity and combat injustices faced by communities of color. These forward-looking and comprehensive efforts include the Propel Center, a first-of-its-kind global innovation and learning hub for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); an Apple Developer Academy to support coding and tech education for students in Detroit; and venture capital funding for Black and Brown entrepreneurs. (Courtesy: Apple)

Prairie View A&M is Sole HBCU in Inaugural Round of Texas Reskilling Support Fund Grants

Reskilling Grants will allow institutions to provide financial assistance to Texas students through coverage of student tuition and fees. The grants will support students pursuing high value credentials who are near completion of their postsecondary credential and re-enrolling to complete a postsecondary credential. Reskilling Grants are intended to be deployed as quickly as reasonably possible during the grant period.  (Courtesy: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board)

Fayetteville State Assoc. Vice-Chancellor Named Region Director of Police Chief's Association

Renarde Earl, Associate Vice Chancellor for Police and Public Safety at Fayetteville State University (FSU), has been appointed to serve as the Region VI Director of the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police. The region includes the counties of Richmond, Scotland, Hoke, Cumberland, Sampson, Robeson, Bladen, Columbus, and Brunswick. (Courtesy: Fayetteville State University)

Episcopal Church launches Campaign for Financial Support of Member HBCUs

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invites Episcopalians to deepen their participation in Christ’s ministry of reconciliation by dedicating offerings at observances of the Feast of Absalom Jones (February 13) and making individual donations to support St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, NC, and Voorhees College in Denmark, SC, two historically black Episcopal institutions of higher education. (Courtesy: Episcopal News Service)

INDUSTRY NEWS

• The Higher Education Industry Is Embracing Predatory and Discriminatory Student Data Practices (Slate)

• Northam’s Proposal Would Add $142 Million to Virginia’s Higher Education Budget (Dogwood)

• Florida bill to create campus ‘intellectual freedom’ survey introduced again (The Center Square)

• Thousands of SC college students' COVID tests not counted in local reporting statistics (Greenville News)