Kentucky State University joined the call from 1890 land grant institutions to include the HBCU Institutional Grants for New Infrastructure, Technology, and Education (IGNITE) bill in the budget reconciliation effort. 

As part of the initiative, the presidents, chancellors and leaders of the 1890 land grant HBCUs are writing to Congressional Education Committee Chairs in support of IGNITE. 

This week, the House Education and Labor Committee is scheduled to mark up its portion of the budget reconciliation bill. 

Officials from the 1890 Council of Presidents issued a statement strongly urging Congress to make HBCU infrastructure improvements a priority. 

“Almost all HBCUs have significant deferred maintenance costs and want to upgrade and build new facilities to meet the needs of our students and communities. The HBCU IGNITE Act would address these challenges,” Dr. Makola Abdullah, president of Virginia State University and chair of the Council of 1890 Universities said. 

According to a letter released from the 1890 Council of Presidents, the average deferred maintenance backlog per HBCU is $46 million. 

During the National HBCU Week, Kentucky State University officials join in the call to include the HBCU IGNITE Act in the budget reconciliation bill.