BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina announced Tuesday its funding of the state’s five qualified, private four-year HBCUs to help the schools “with immediate financial needs to ensure sustainability, and assist in getting as many students as possible to begin or continue their education with these institutions.”
Due in part to COVID-19, colleges and universities throughout the state are struggling with budget constraints and with the health insurance’s donation, more than 6,300 students and faculty at Allen University and Benedict College in Columbia, Claflin University in Orangeburg, Morris College in Sumter and Voorhees College in Denmark — will benefit.
While the bulk of the funding will go toward technology-based support, other funds will be allocated based on enrollment levels and support specific priorities identified by the institution
The priority funding includes:
• Technology infrastructures, devices and hotspots for which Allen, Benedict, Claflin and Morris will use nearly $2 million dollars to upgrade their I/T network security and bandwidth.
• eLearning platforms, training and certification for faculty at Benedict, Claflin, Morris and Voorhees, where more than $1 million will be applied to ensure their faculty members are equipped and prepared to offer effective virtual instruction.
• Tuition‐based scholarships and hardship/emergency relief stipends, for which all five schools will receive nearly $3 million to help students struggling financially to return to school.
• Health and wellness services at Benedict for which $400,000 will be used to provide nursing and counseling services to its students.
BlueCross BlueShield of SC Provides Hefty Donations to State’s HBCUs
