Daytona Beach, FL - After several years of financial woes, the future is looking brighter for Bethune-Cookman University. On Monday, June 29, Governor Ron DeSantis approved $17 million in recurring funding for the school. The school says this money secures the college's future and access to higher education for African American students.
B-CU President Dr. LaBrent Chrite said Monday, “We greatly appreciate the state’s generous support of Bethune-Cookman University, and we are grateful to Governor DeSantis, Senator Bracy, and Representative Antone and others for working so hard on our behalf. This commitment, particularly at this unique time in the state’s recent history, represents a powerful affirmation of the critical role this university assumes in developing Florida’s human capital. Our job now is to effectively and transparently steward these resources in order to improve and sustain the vitality, competitiveness, and impact of B-CU for another 116 years.”
Judge Belvin Perry, Chairman of the B-CU Board of Trustees, noted the importance of preserving HBCUs. “We appreciate the efforts of Gov. DeSantis, Florida Senate President Bill Galvano, Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva, the Florida Black Caucus led by Rep. Bruce Antone, Sen. Randolph Bracy, III, and Rep. Elizabeth Fetterhoff for recognizing the importance of not just Bethune-Cookman University, but Florida Memorial University and Edward Waters College as well. These three institutions are vital to the state of Florida in making sure that people of color have access to a first-class education.”
The funding was made possible through the efforts of State Senator Randolph Bracy, III, serving as the Senate appropriation sponsor, the Legislative Black Caucus, led by its chairman, State Representative Bruce Antone, and State Representative Elizabeth Fetterhoff, who is the House appropriation sponsor.
