Wait Is Over for Colleges Whose Title VI Grants Were Delayed

[Harold F. Schiffman]

 http://chronicle.com/daily/2006/07/2006071107n.htm
Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Wait Is Over for Colleges Whose Title VI Grants Were Delayed
By KELLY FIELD


Washington

To the relief of colleges nationwide, the U.S. Department of Education
last week awarded its Title VI grants to National Resource Centers and
Language Resource Centers. The four-year grants, which are typically given
in late April or May, were delayed this year because of the volume of work
the department faced as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the
agency has said. The delay in the awarding of millions of dollars in
grants had left centers on dozens of campuses in limbo, wondering whether
they would have money to operate in their 2007 fiscal year, which for most
colleges began on July 1.

The grants are awarded to programs designated as National Resource Centers
or Language Resource Centers under Title VI of the Higher Education Act.
Colleges rely on the federal money to hire instructors, pay administrative
staff members, and train teachers in their surrounding communities.
Individual grants typically range from $200,000 to $300,000 per year.
National Resource Centers provide research and instruction in foreign
languages and international studies, as well as outreach to secondary and
elementary schools, to businesses, and to government and nongovernmental
organizations.

Language Resource Centers conduct research, train teachers, and develop
curricula and tests in less commonly taught languages.