Programs for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) Under the Higher Education Act (HEA)

Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) are institutions of higher education that serve high concentrations of minority students who, historically, have been underrepresented in higher education. Many MSIs have faced challenges in securing adequate financial support, thus affecting their ability to develop and enhance their academic offerings and ultimately serve their students. Federal higher education policy recognizes the importance of such institutions and targets financial resources to them. Funding for MSIs is channeled through numerous federal agencies, and several of these funding sources are available to MSIs through grant programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA; P.L. 89-329). Over the years, HEA programs that support MSIs have expanded and now include programs for institutions serving a wide variety of student populations. In FY2014, MSI programs under the HEA were appropriated approximately $780 million, which helped fund more than 940 grants to institutions.

Author: Congressional Research Service

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Publication Date: Jan 15, 2015

Number of Pages: 60 pages

Binding: Paperback or Softback

ISBN-10: 1507735928

ISBN-13: 9781507735923