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by Vincent Martorano
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AUSTIN, Texas ā Huston-Tillotson University has received a record-breaking $150 million donation from the Moody Foundation, marking the largest contribution ever made to a historically Black college or university (HBCU). The donation commemorates the university's 150 years of service as Austin's first institution of higher education.
Ross Moody, trustee of the Moody Foundation, expressed the foundation's commitment to the university.
"We believe deeply in Huston-Tillotson, in its growing impact, and the prominent role it plays for its students, and for our city," he said.
The university plans to allocate $100 million of the donation towards constructing three new housing facilities, which will add 800 beds to the campus. Currently, Huston-Tillotson has only two dorms and rents additional space from another university, accommodating just 577 students. Dr. Melva Wallace, President and CEO of Huston-Tillotson University, emphasized the urgent need for more dormitories.
"We are out of space. We need dorms desperately," she said.
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She said the university will build three new housing facilities on campus. This includes state-of-the-art student apartments.
"We're looking forward to bringing all of those students on the campus, and hopefully those 800 beds would get us, you know, a great start to being able to accommodate more students on campus," she said.
The remaining funds will be used to provide a variety of scholarships aimed at reducing student debt.
"Our goal is to ensure that the majority of our students, as many students as possible, can graduate with as less debt as possible," Wallace said.
These improvements are set to be implemented over the next decade.