U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz appointed Hampton University’s president William Harvey to serve as one of the several ambassadors for the DOE’s Minorities in Energy Initiative. Moniz paid HU a visit giving a speech to faculty and students applauding the university’s progress as a research university and pointing out the need for more people of color in his department. "There is a dearth of minorities in the work force of the Department of Energy," he said. "We need to do more." via Daily Press

West Virginia State University received $325,000 from the U.S. Department of Defense to upgrade scientific research equipment. The grant will be used to purchase a high-performance liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS) which will help to further study tumor growth, fruit nutrition and environmental remediation via WVSU

Central State University now has land grant status after a farm bill was passed by the House of Representatives. Previously, Ohio State University was the only institution in the state with a public land grant. This grant makes CSU eligible for federal funding and awards in agricultural research and development. Previously via HBCU Digest

A new public health program in Jamaica created by the North Carolina Study Abroad/Global Engagement Partnership, consisting of the state’s 11 HBCUs including Winston-Salem State University, Shaw University and North Carolina A&T State University, hopes to help boost study abroad participation among African American college students. The four-week course, “Public Health in Jamaica”, will take place at the University of the West Indies-MONA in Kingson starting May 26th. via HBCU Buzz

Winston-Salem State University’s Class of 1958 breaks the school record for giving by donating over $100,000. 2013 marks the class’ 55th year anniversary, and they continued the university’s long-time tradition of giving gifts to celebrate. The donations will be used to fund scholarships for students majoring in education via WSSU

In sports news, Grambling State University’s Tiger Marching Band was one of the seven picks in ESPN Magazine’s Fantasy Halftime Show Package Contest, where readers chose seven musical acts they would love to see during the Super Bowl Halftime Show. The Tigers Marching Band was paired with New Orleans musician Trombone Shorty and New Orleans Saints players Kenny Stills and Cameron Jordan. Ten of GSU’s band members got the opportunity to participate in the photo shoot for ESPN the Magazine, which hits stands this month via GSU

Clark Atlanta University’s Athletics Department recently got hit with a host of penalties after the NCAA Division II Committee found infractions. Most of the violations were found with the men’s basketball program where student-athletes were given forbidden benefits in cash amounting to over $4,000, meals and airline tickets, and three players were allowed to play while ineligible. A student-athlete from the women’s tennis team was also allowed to compete while ineligible. The penalties include three years of probation, a $5,000 fine, a vacation of all men’s basketball wins, reduction of athletic scholarships and an external audit of the athletics program via HBCU Digest

 

Plus:

FAMU Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Smith-Lever Act

Kentucky State University Cuts 202 Students

HBCUS Lead New Innovation In Urban Agriculture

Howard University Jazz Ensemble Partners With The Washington Ballet

UDC’s Director of Athletics Selected to Serve on NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Committee