Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) will receive more than $1 million in federal funding to bolster its STEM education, undergraduate research, and career preparation initiatives.
JCSU will use the money to buy advanced equipment for research across multiple fields, including environmental chemistry, biology and agriculture. In addition to hardware, the funds will support undergraduate research projects and specialized equipment training.
In announcing the grant on Saturday, U.S. Rep. Alma Adams said the funds would “give JCSU students greater access to the technology, research opportunities and hands-on training that will prepare them for high-demand careers and help strengthen our workforce and economy.”
In a statement, JCSU President Valerie Kinloch called the grant “seismic,” highlighting its significance to the university and the surrounding community.
“JCSU remains committed to helping drive economic mobility in Charlotte and across the region,” she said, “and this award further enables that commitment to be fully realized.”
Adams, a six-term Democrat who represents much of Mecklenburg County, said the funding would provide new opportunities for JCSU students.
“It is about ensuring talented students have access to the tools, technology and training that will prepare them to lead in STEM fields while strengthening economic mobility in Charlotte and across North Carolina,” she said.
The federal grant was announced days after UNCF and The James and Judith K. Dimon Foundation announced that JCSU would be among 12 historically Black colleges and universities to each receive $1 million. The money will be used to increase the schools’ endowments.
In her statement, Adams noted that 75% of JCSU students are eligible for federal Pell Grants, which are awarded based on financial need, and 45% are first-generation college students.
The latest funding comes as JCSU continues to navigate a period of financial scrutiny. The school’s accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, placed the university on probation last year over concerns about its financial responsibility and oversight.
