Morehouse, Clark Atlanta get grants linking grads to jobs

Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University are among 24 colleges and universities to receive grants to implement programs aimed at improving employment rates for graduates.

The Lilly Endowment will give Morehouse $1.2 million and CAU $1.5 million, according to the United Negro College Fund.

The total grants given by the endowment to 24 colleges and universities comes to $35.3 million.

The grants got the attention of the endowment because more than half of recent African-American college graduates are underemployed and 12 percent are unemployed, according to the UNCF.

Many of these students will be the first in their families to earn college degrees. The majority of students are from low- to moderate-income families and must receive federal financial aid.

These colleges and universities submitted proposals commiting to strengthening career advising and mentoring, enhancing curricula, and will develop academic programs, student internships, industry partnerships, specialty certifications, and faculty development.

Although historically black colleges and universities represent 3 percent of all two- and four-year U.S. colleges and universities, they enroll 10 percent of all African-American undergraduates, produce 18 percent of all African-American college graduates, and generate 25 percent of all bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields earned by African-Americans annually.