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Debt Ceiling Fallout
Federal government may not be able to meet fiscal obligations.
Treasury Secretary Yellen warned Congress that if an agreement is not reached on the debt ceiling, the federal government may not be able to meet all its obligations. (View analysis of the proposal here and the full text here.) Some agencies and programs, including Federal Student Aid (FSA) could experience a lapse in funding. As a precaution, higher education administrators are advised to review their payment obligations and drawdown schedules. Additionally, they should assess their institution’s cash on hand and their ability to meet debt service obligations.
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Title IX Delayed. The Department pushed back the date for publishing the final Title IX and the student eligibility for athletic teams rules to October 2023. During the public comment periods, the proposed rules received thousands of comments, which the Department must consider when drafting the final rules. If published before November 1, 2023, the rules will go into effect July 1 2024. The Department’s blog post contains links to the rulemaking notices, comments, and related fact sheets.
Department of Education (Department) Rulemaking Update. The Department is seeking comments on its proposed financial value transparency, gainful employment, financial responsibility, administrative capability, certification procedures, and ability to benefit rules. The deadline for comments is June 20, 2023.
Post-Pandemic Guidance for Distance Education. The Department published clarification on accreditation and Title IV requirements for distance education programs after the end of the COVID national emergency. The requirements go into effect October 7, 2023 and will impact both institutions and accreditation agencies.
Foreign Gift and Contract Reporting Update. The Department is maintaining a resource page that features links to data and guidance related to foreign gifts and contracts. The data shows a significant increase in gifts and contracts since the last reporting deadline. Reports are due biannually at the end of January and July.
Fact Sheet Updates for Prison Programs. FSA published a fact sheet for incarcerated students and a fact sheet for accrediting agencies.
HBCU Joins Exodus from US News & World Report rankings. Stillman College President Dr. Cynthia Warrick cited several statistics in support of the decision to withdraw from the beleaguered rankings. She joins others who have criticized the rankings for not valuing social mobility outcomes and civic and social justice missions.
Georgia Will Tax Digital Downloads. Governor Kemp signed legislation authorizing sales tax to be collected when Georgians download digital media such as books, video games, and music. The law goes into effect January 1, 2024.
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Florida Bans Diversity Initiatives. Governor Desantis signed a bill prohibiting state colleges and universities from spending funds on diversity, equity, and inclusion, unless so required by federal regulation. The law, which was not unexpected, goes into effect on July 1, 2023. Florida is home to Florida A&M University, a public HBCU.
House Representatives Launch Sweet v. Cardona Settlement Investigation. Representative James Comer, chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Representative Virginia Foxx, chair of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, launched an investigation to determine whether political influence and conflict of interests played a role in the settlement. The pair has requested Secretary Cardona surrender documents and communications.
States Allocate More Funding for Higher Education. A State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) study found state funding for public institutions passed pre- 2008 recession levels in 2022. However, institutions continue to face uncertainty amid enrollment declines, the end of federal stimulus programs, and increases in administrative costs. The report and data sets are available for download on the SHEEO website.
The American Council on Education and the TIAA Institute recently released
the American College President: 2023 Edition
, a report on the college presidency. The report examines trends in demographics, executive turnover, search processes, support, and other areas.
Although Improved, Enrollment Still Short of Pre-Pandemic Levels. Researchers led by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation studied the implications of current enrollment, retention, and re-enrollment data and the barriers facing traditional and adult students.
Philanthropic Organizations Give Less to HBCUs. A recent study by Candid and the Association of Black Foundation Executives found Ivy Leagues, on average, received 178 times more funding from philanthropic organizations than HBCUs.
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WPG and WPI admire the fortitude, and determination HBCU administrators, trustees, faculty, and staff exhibited this year. Your resilience and resourcefulness enabled your students and communities to thrive. We are so grateful! So proud! Congratulations! |
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Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents announced Dr. Ruth Ray Jackson will serve as interim president of Langston University. Currently serving as vice president for academic affairs, Dr. Jackson has held several administrative positions at the university. She succeeds Dr. Kent J. Smith, who is retiring.
Howard University named Dr. Ben Vinson III, president, effective September 1, 2023. He currently serves as provost, executive vice president, and Hiram C. Haydn professor of history at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Vinson takes the reins from Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, who is stepping down.
The University System of Georgia named Ms. Cynthia Robinson Alexander, JD, interim president of Savannah State University. Ms. Alexander currently serves as the University System of Georgia’s vice chancellor for finance. An experienced administrator, she succeeds Ms. Kimberly Ballard-Washington, JD.
Jarvis Christian University named Dr. Glenell M. Lee-Pruitt president. Dr. Lee-Pruitt is an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She has been serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs at the university since 2012. She takes the reins from Dr. Lester C. Newman, who is retiring.
Rust College named Dr. Robert M. Dixon interim president. Dr. Dixon, a physicist and experienced administrator, had been serving as interim vice president for academic affairs.
Prairie View A&M University announced Dr. James M. Palmer will step down from his position as provost effective upon completion of a national search. Dr. Ruth Simmons appointed Dr. Palmer in 2020.
Texas Southern University appointed Dr. Carl Goodman provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, effective July 2023. He hails from Bowie State University where he also served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. He has served in several administrative and academic roles.
Livingstone College named Ms. Queen Edwards-Smith head coach for women’s basketball. Coach Smith was an award winning player in high school and in college. During her tenure, Yale University’s women’s basketball team catapulted from a 2-19 record to a 20-0 record.
Voorhees University named Mr. James Cornelius Williams head coach for men’s basketball. Coach Williams previously served as assistant coach for men’s basketball and as an academic success coach.
Howard University named Ms. Dana McPherson assistant vice president in the office of university communications, effective June 20, 2023. McPherson is currently serving at the University of Florida as executive director of marketing and brand management.
Spelman College announced the retirement of Ms. Rosalind Brewer, an alumna who has served as chair of the Spelman College Board of Trustees for over a decade. She will be succeeded by alumna Ms. Lovette Twyman Russell.
Virginia Union University named Dr. Robin Davis associate vice president of entrepreneurship and executive dean of the Sydney Lewis School of Business. Her experience includes business and economic development and higher education administration.
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The National Park Service awarded $9,700,000 to 13 HBCUs to fund 14 preservation and repair projects as part of the Historic Preservation Fund’s HBCU grant program.
The Macquarie Group Foundation awarded a $1,050,000 grant to the Bullard Center for Environmental & Climate Justice at Texas Southern University. The grant will support a new environmental and climate justice corps program for undergraduates.
Lincoln University of Missouri received an $800,000 grant from the Department of Energy. The grant will be used to support research and training opportunities for students, researchers, and faculty to study the impacts of extreme weather and climate on carbon dioxide uptake and release in forests.
Dr. Aristides Marcano, a professor of physics and engineering at Delaware State University received a four-year, $750,000 grant from the Department of Defense. The grant will be used to support his research into photo generation of singlet oxygen.
Texas Southern University established the Milton Carrol Scholarship Fund, which includes a $500,000 endowed scholarship and $150,000 in general scholarships. The scholarships were presented by CenterPoint energy in recognition of Milton Carrol, former chair of the CenterPoint Energy Board and chair of the Texas Southern University Board of Regents.
Fayetteville State University received a five-year $423,487 grant from NASA to support STEM summer camps for high school students. The camps are intended to encourage students to pursue STEM related careers and help them attain academic success in STEM majors.
Tuskegee University received a $100,000 grant from Genetech to support graduate and post-graduate students participating in collaborative STEM research projects with Columbia University.
Bowie State University received a $10,000 scholarship donation from the United Baptist Women of Maryland. Founded in 1964, the group is disbanding due to declining membership.
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Dr. Ronnie Hopkins president of Voorhees University was appointed president of the Association of Episcopal Colleges (AEC). The AEC is a global organization comprised of eight colleges and universities affiliated with the Episcopal Church—two of which are HBCUs.
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association announced it selected Anthony Todd Bennett, director of athletics at Fayetteville State University for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Athletics Director of the Year award. Director Bennett won the award last year as well.
Bowie State University recognized the contributions of faculty and staff at its annual Employee Recognition Program. The university used the occasion to honor Dr. Sammye Miller who has served the university for over 50 years. During that time he has served as chair of the department of history and government, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, and as special assistant to the provost.
Governor Kay Ivey presented the 2023 Governor’s Trade Excellence Award to Tuskegee University for achieving extraordinary results in international initiatives. Established in 2005, this is the first time the award has been bestowed upon a university. Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and Dr. Rhonda Collier, director of the Tuskegee University Global Office represented the university at the ceremony.
Business North Carolina Magazine named Fayetteville State University Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, J.D., to the education section of its Power List for 2023. Chancellor Allison was noted for supporting community engagement, student retention, and increased scholarship opportunities.
Simmons College of Kentucky participated in the 5th Annual Race to Greatness event which honors the historical contributions of Black jockeys to professional horse racing. The college’s Black Film Institute premiered its docuseries
Raising Simmons during the event.
Florida A&M University won the Coca-Cola HBCU Sports Production grant for the film
Defy the Odds. The $40,000 grant is awarded to HBCU students enrolled in a journalism or media production program with a focus on sports broadcasting. It was created by Coca-Cola in partnership with the Foundation of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The students will use the grant to complete the film.
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Texas Southern University and Rice University announced a partnership to launch the Southeastern Texas African and African American Studies Consortium. Prairie View A&M University and the University of Houston are also participants. The institutions have a history of collaboration which the consortium will expand.
Music Executive Adrian Miller announced he will create a recording studio at Livingstone College. The Adrian M. Miller Conservatory, named for his son, will provide a home for the college’s future music programs and other majors.
Johnson C. Smith University and the Gardner-Webb University Department of Physician Assistant Medicine announced an agreement to facilitate post graduate study for the HBCU’s students. Qualified Johnson C. Smith University graduates can apply for reserved applicant spots in the Gardner-Webb University physician assistant program and waive almost $2,000 in fees.
Clinton College held a ribbon cutting and dedication celebration in honor of the completion of the Academic Center for Excellence. The multipurpose building will house classrooms, conference rooms, a writing lab and a new nursing lab.
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Deadlines and Information |
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The Department extended the pause in student loan repayment, interest, and collection. The extension will expire 60 days after the Supreme Court of the United States permits the Department to implement its debt relief programs or the litigation is otherwise resolved.
There is an automatic extension of the performance period through June 30, 2023, for all open grants issued under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that have a balance greater than $1,000.
Reminder: Update your Unique Entity ID (UEI) in the General Services Administration System to prevent problems processing Title IV or other delays. This update must be performed annually.
The Department of Education posted a table of deadlines and announcements.
FSA published a list of suggested single audit procedures related to NSLDS Enrollment Reporting.
EDExpress for Windows 2023–2024, Release 2.0.is available.
Updated Service Release Available for EDExpress for Windows 2022–2023, Release 3.0 is available.
The deadline for the Campus-Based Reallocation Form designated for the return of 2022-23 funds is August 14, 2023.
The deadline to request supplemental FWS funds for the 2023-24 award year is August 14, 2023.
The Department published frequently asked questions for the 90/10 rule.
FSA provided guidance to institutions regarding the eligibility requirements for confined or incarcerated individuals to receive Federal Pell Grants on or after July 1, 2023.
The Department published a fact sheet for the Prison Education Program.
A notice was published in the Federal Register regarding data sharing between the Department of Defense and the Department of Education.
The Department provided information to clarify and update institutional and applicants' roles and responsibilities related to Title IV dependency determinations for unaccompanied homeless youth as provided by the FAFSA Simplification Act.
The deadline to submit the Work Colleges Program Report of 2022-2023 award year expenditures is September 29, 2023. The deadline to file the Institutional Application and Agreement for Participation in the Work Colleges Program for the 2024-25 award year for new applicants is November 1, 2023. For returning participants/applicants the deadline is March 4, 2024.
The deadline for the Direct Loan closeout for the 2021–2022 program year is July 31, 2023. All data must be received and accepted by this date to be included in a school’s final ending cash balance for the year. Please note that cash management, disbursement reporting, and monthly reconciliation regulatory requirements supersede the closeout deadline.
The deadline for purchasing or assigning Perkins Loans that have been in default for more than two years has been extended to June 30, 2023. All other conditions remain in effect. Institutions are advised to maintain records of collection efforts and consult the latest federal aid handbook.
FSA updated the 2024-25 Draft Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide.
FSA provided information on verification requirements and verification reporting and the status code W on the 2022-2023 FAFSA. Information for the 2023-2024 award year was published in the Federal Register (includes policy for incarcerated students).
FSA posted the 2023-2024 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Guide.
Information on noncitizen Title IV aid eligibility, including lawful permanent residents, special immigrant conditional permanent residents, special immigrant parolees, and non-special immigrant Afghan parolees is available here, on the DHS-SAVE’s Fact Sheet, and in Volume 1, Chapter 2 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the Fiscal Operations Report for 2021–2022 and Application to Participate for 2023-2024 (FISAP). Download the form, instructions, desk reference, and technical reference. The deadline to submit the FISAP is September 30, 2023.
A six-month single audit submission extension is available to non-federal entity recipients that have due dates between September 18, 2022, and December 31, 2022, and are located in Puerto Rico, Alaska, Florida, South Carolina, or North Carolina. The extension covers the whole state but institutions in less affected areas are encouraged to submit their audits on time.
Information on the Campus-Based Awards for 2023–2024 that are available under the FWS and FSEOG has been finalized.
The FSA Partner and School Relations Center will conduct Campus-Based school testing for schools reporting Federal Work-Study (FWS) wages using the Campus-Based Common Record XML Schema Version 1.0a from June 26, 2023, through Dec. 15, 2023.
FSA posted sequester-required increases to Direct Loan fees and sequester-required reductions in Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant and TEACH Grant award amounts. These apply to loans and grant awards where the first disbursement is on or after October. 1, 2023, and before October. 1, 2024. For fiscal year 2024, the sequester-required changes are the same as the fiscal year 2023 sequester-required changes.
FSA posted a table showing the interest rates for Direct Loans first disbursed between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
FSA posted the maximum HEAL Program interest rates for the quarter ending June 30, 2023.
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Event: Society for Human Resource Management Annual Conference
Date: June 11-14, 2023
Location: Virtual and Las Vegas, NV
Information: Additional Details
Event: Presidents Summit on Leading Quality
Date: June 23, 2023
Location: Virtual
Information: Additional Details
Event: 2023-2024 Institute on Open Educational Resources
Date: July 24-25, 2023
Location: Virtual
Information: Additional Details
Event: 2023 HBCU Philanthropy Symposium
Date: July 30-August 2, 2023
Location: Harbor, Maryland
Information: Additional Details
Event: College and University Professional Association for Human Resources
Date: October 1-3, 2023
Location: New Orleans, LA
Information: Additional Details
Event: TRACS 2023 Annual Conference
Date: October 25-27, 2023
Location: Orlando, Florida
Information: Additional Details
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WPG HBCU News is a monthly email published by the Wesley Peachtree Group, CPAs (WPG) as a service to the sector. It provides short summaries of news articles, government regulations, and announcements found online.
WPG HBCU News is available at no cost to HBCU administrators, trustees, and senior stakeholders. It is not intended as legal or financial advice. WPG's staff, writers, editors, publishers, web hosts, e-mail distributors, and others involved with the production and presentation of this newsletter are not liable for errors, omissions, losses, injuries, or damages arising directly or indirectly from use of this newsletter or any information presented therein.
WPG is a full-service accounting firm with clients in the private business, education, government, faith-based, and not-for-profit sectors. We specialize in higher-education with a particular emphasis on minority-serving institutions. We welcome your feedback. |
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The Wesley Peachtree Group, CPAs
Atlanta Office:
1475 Klondike Road, Suite 100,
Conyers, Georgia, 30094
(404) 874-0555 |
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