Jackson State University will eliminate eight positions at the end of the year as federal funding for the roles dries up, a move that could affect the institution's ability to secure donations and other private support. The news was confirmed in a letter obtained by Mississippi Today. At least a handful of staff in the university's Division of Institutional Advancement were notified this week that their roles would end Dec. 31, and the university expects to lose millions of dollars from the U.S. Department of Education, though officials did not disclose how much.
The letter links the cuts to "JSU's Activity Six, Title III, Part B. Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program," which the university's website describes as "elevating contributions from alumni and private donors." It is one of 21 projects under the university's HBCU Title III grant awarded for the 2022-27 cycle. The Division of Institutional Advancement oversees fundraising, major gifts, alumni relationships, fundraising campaigns and growing the endowment, and works with JSU's Development Foundation to secure financial support for scholarships and academic programs.
Title III was created in 1965 under the Higher Education Act to help historically Black colleges and universities overcome past underfunding and provide students with equal opportunity to a quality education, according to the federal education department. The aid can help eligible institutions build infrastructure, develop academic programs and training, and raise endowments. In 2022, JSU received $8.2 million in Title III funds, according to the federal agency's website.
JSU spokesperson Anthony Howard denied in an email that the university is losing Title III funding. "Jackson State University has not lost any Title III grant funding," he said. He confirmed eight positions would be affected, characterizing the move as part of a reallocation of federal money, and said the university would reallocate the funds to other Title III activities, though the university did not disclose how much or where.
Employees affected by the layoff were encouraged to apply for vacancies, officials said. It remains unclear whether JSU or Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, the state's college board, will seek alternative funding to retain the positions; IHL declined to comment to Mississippi Today. It is also unclear how much of the lost funding is directly to blame for the layoffs and why the university's funding is being terminated by the federal government.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The jobs cut are in the university's fundraising arm, which secures major gifts and works with the Development Foundation on scholarships; losing those roles could hurt JSU's ability to attract donations and private support.
- The university expects to lose millions in federal money even as it denies losing its Title III grant, and the gap between the letter and the university's account leaves unclear how much funding is actually going away.
- The Dec. 31 deadline gives employees and the state's college board little time to line up alternative funding if they choose to.
Background
Jackson State University is a public historically Black university in Jackson, Mississippi. Federal Title III aid, created under the Higher Education Act of 1965, has been used to help historically Black colleges and universities build infrastructure, develop academic programs and raise endowments. JSU received $8.2 million in Title III funds in 2022, according to the federal agency's website; officials have not said what reduction they now expect.
Key Perspectives
Anthony Howard, JSU spokesperson: Says the university "has not lost any Title III grant funding" and is reallocating federal money to other Title III activities.
The letter obtained by Mississippi Today: Says the eight positions are funded by Title III money, specifically "JSU's Activity Six, Title III, Part B. Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program."
Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning: Declined to comment to Mississippi Today on whether it will seek alternative funding.
What to Watch
- Whether JSU or the state's college board moves to find alternative funding before the Dec. 31 end date.
- Whether officials disclose how much federal money JSU expects to lose and where the reallocated funds will go.
- Whether the cuts affect other projects under the 21-project HBCU Title III grant.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedHoward said, “Jackson State University has not lost any Title III grant funding.”Mississippi Today: ““Jackson State University has not lost any Title III grant funding,” Howard said.”
- SupportedThe letter identifies “JSU's Activity Six, Title III, Part B. Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program.”Mississippi Today: “The letter specifically mentioned funding for “JSU’s Activity Six, Title III, Part B. Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program,””
- SupportedThe university website describes the activity as “elevating contributions from alumni and private donors.”Mississippi Today: “which the university’s website describes as “elevating contributions from alumni and private donors.””
- SupportedJackson State will eliminate eight positions at the end of the year as federal funding for the roles dries up.Mississippi Today: “Eight Jackson State University positions are being eliminated at the end of the year as federal funding for the roles dry up”
- SupportedThe spokesperson denies that Jackson State is losing Title III funding.Mississippi Today: “Anthony Howard, a spokesperson for JSU, denied in an email that the university is losing Title III funding.”
- SupportedHoward characterized the cuts as part of a reallocation of federal money.Mississippi Today: “He confirmed that eight positions would be affected by the layoffs, characterizing the move as part of a reallocation of federal money.”
- SupportedThe cuts could affect the university's ability to secure donations and other private support.Mississippi Today: “possibly affecting the institution’s ability to secure donations and other private financial support.”
- SupportedA letter obtained by Mississippi Today confirmed the news.Mississippi Today: “The news, confirmed in a letter obtained Friday by Mississippi Today”
- SupportedAt least a handful of staff in Institutional Advancement were notified this week that their roles would end Dec. 31.Mississippi Today: “At least a handful of staff members in the university’s Division of Institutional Advancement were notified this week that their roles would be eliminated Dec. 31.”
- SupportedThe university expects to lose millions of dollars from the U.S. Department of Education, but officials did not disclose the amount.Mississippi Today: “the university expects to lose millions of dollars from the U.S. Department of Education. ... University officials did not disclose how much money they are expected to lose.”
- SupportedThe activity is one of 21 projects under the university's HBCU Title III grant for the 2022–27 cycle.Mississippi Today: “This is one of 21 projects under the university’s HBCU Title III grant which the federal government awarded for the 2022-27 cycle.”
- SupportedJackson State received $8.2 million in Title III funds in 2022, according to the federal agency's website.Mississippi Today: “In 2022, JSU received $8.2 million in Title III funds, according to the federal agency’s website.”