Low-Income and Minority Serving Institutions: Education Has Taken Steps to Improve Monitoring and Assistance, but Further Progress Is Needed

Institutions that serve large proportions of low-income and minority students may receive funding under Titles III and V of the Higher Education Act. In FY 2008, $667 million in grants were awarded to over 500 institutions. This report determined: (1) the characteristics of institutions eligible to receive grants under Titles III and V and characteristics of students served; (2) challenges grantees face, and how they spent Title III and V funds to address these challenges; and (3) the extent to which the Dept. of Educ. monitors the financial and programmatic performance of grantees, and uses this info. to target its technical assistance. The report analyzed data from a sample of grant applications and annual performance reports for FY 2006 grantees. Illustrations.