FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

FISCAL YEAR 2004 ANNUAL FEDERAL PERFORMANCE REPORT
ON EXECUTIVE AGENCY ACTIONS TO ASSIST HISTORICALLY
BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Executive Summary

This report outlines strategies that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has implemented to increase the participation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in federally sponsored programs.

The goals and measurable objectives the FHWA sought to achieve during FY 2004 were to: 1) increase the number of highway research, development and technology contracts, grants and cooperative agreements awarded to HBCUs; 2) increase the number of HBCU students pursuing transportation careers by participating in programs such as the Dwight David Eisenhower Fellowship Program and maintaining/expanding the number of HBCUs sponsoring a Summer Transportation Institute; and 3) establish a partnership in every State or Territory where a HBCU is located. Below are brief descriptions of the goal and measurable objectives for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2003 and 2004.

Description of Goal and Measurable Objectives

#1: Increase the number of highway research, development and technology contracts, grants and cooperative agreements awarded to HBCUs

In view of the FHWA's commitment to ensure greater participation by HBCUs in highway research, development, and technology contracts and grants, some of the activities under this category include the following:

• Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)

  The purpose of the LTAP Program is to provide the transfer of highway technology and technical assistance to rural and local governments. Monies are awarded to colleges/universities to participate in this program. For FY 2004, the following was awarded:

• Entrepreneurial Development Institutes (EDI)

  The EDI Program provides training and technical assistance to disadvantaged businesses to enhance their capability to obtain highway construction and related contracts.

• Competitive Assistance Program (CAP) for HBCUs

  Colleges and universities compete among themselves for grants and cooperative agreements that are relevant to one or more of FHWA's six strategic goals.² In FY 2004, the FHWA awarded $230,000 in cooperative agreements for transportation research and technology activities to the following universities:

#2 Increase the number of HBCU students pursuing transportation careers by participating in programs such as the Dwight David Eisenhower Fellowship Program; and maintain/expand the number of HBCUs sponsoring a Summer Transportation Institute

• Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program

  For FY 2004, FHWA administered 44 Eisenhower HBCU Fellowships to the following 14 HBCUs:

• National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI)

  This 4 to 5-week program is designed to encourage and motivate youth to pursue transportation careers. Since its inception, more than 5,000 students and 31 HBCUs have participated in the Program. The following table indicated the number of colleges/universities, number of HBCUs and number of students who participated in said program for FYs 2003 and 2004.

• On-the-Job Training Supportive Services (OJT/SS)

  The provisions for the program provide annual funding for OJT/SS projects with innovative approaches and nationwide implications to support employment opportunities for people moving from welfare-to-work, women and minorities in fields of highway construction and transportation technology. HBCUs are encouraged to develop proposals to assist minorities and women in developing job readiness skills and support systems, which facilitate acceptance and retention in highway construction trades or related technology fields.

#3 Establish a partnership in every State or Territory where a HBCU is located

The goal of the partnerships is to forge better, ongoing relationships with each HBCU. Moreover, since 1991, the FHWA has signed partnership agreements with 27 HBCUs to provide technical assistance, curriculum development, and exchanges of staff and resources.

FY Annual Performance Awards

In FY 2003, HBCUs were awarded $6,089,898, and in FY 2004, HBCUs were awarded $6,140,499, an increase of $50,601 in awards to HBCUs in FY 2004.

Summary

The FHWA HBCU program goals and objectives outlined above were developed to meet the requirement of the Executive Order 13256. Moreover, they support the Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Futures Program (GAMTTFP). The GAMTTFP is a National education initiative built on partnerships with the transportation and education communities. Thus far, the FHWA has established partnerships with 27 HBCUs. Specifically, the report overall shows that the FHWA continues to focus on expanding opportunities for HBCUs in three categories -- Partnerships, Human Resources, and Grants and Contracts.

While the report indicates a decrease of funds ($1,878,489 (2% of the total R&D awards to all Institutions of Higher Educations)) to HBCUs in the Research & Development (R&D) category for FY 2004, this decrease was due to a reduction of funds and a need to develop writing proposals. However, in FY 2003, the FHWA awarded over $2,112,751 to R&D.

A decreased was also indicated in the HBCUs under CAP. In FY 2004, the FHWA awarded $230,000 to the HBCUs under CAP and awarded $400,000 in FY 2003. To address these decreases in both areas (R&D and HBCUs under CAP), the FHWA Office of Civil Rights will be conducting several meetings with interested parties (i.e., FHWA Program and Division Offices) to define the causes for these decreases and the solution to such. Concerning HBCU Fellowships, the report indicates an increase for this item in FY 2004. Particularly, the FHWA administered 44 Eisenhower HBCU Fellowships (Fellowships) at 14 HBCUs during FY 2004 compared to 37 Fellowships at 12 HBCUs in FY 2003.

Further, in FY 2004, the FHWA awarded $2,000,000 to the National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI) Program and had 44 institutions serving as host sites. Of the institutions serving as host sites, 28 were HBCUs. South Carolina State University, an HBCU, continues to serve as the National Summer Transportation Institute Resource Center. Also, in FY 2003, 27 HBCUs served as host sites.

In closing, the FHWA continues to publicize the successes and awards of the Summer Transportation Institutes, Cooperative Education efforts, Fellowships, and other forms of student employment in newsletter, annual reports and its website.

[1] Winston-Salem State University was awarded $19,539 to conduct a Truckers' EDI program.

[2] The FHWA's Six Strategic Goals: Safety, Mobility and Productivity, Global Connectivity, Environment, National Homeland Security, and Organizational Excellence.

[3] Title 23 United States Code provides for annual funding for OJT/SS projects.

Summary of Total Agency Awards, by category

1. AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration

2. Name/Signature and Title of Representative: /s/ Frederick D. Isler – Associate Administrator for Civil Rights
    Date: January 28, 2005

3. TOTAL FUNDS FOR AWARDS TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION (IHEs): $106,633,936

FY 2004 HBCU Awards Narrative