The United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation announced that it has received a grant for more than $9 million from the U.S. Department of Education in support of the Institute for International Public Policy (IIPP). IIPP is part of a strong consortium of institutions of higher education whose purpose is to increase the representation of minorities in international service.

With the specific mission to prepare minority students for careers in international affairs, IIPP was created by Congress in 1992 in Title VI, Part C, Section 621 of the Higher Education Act. For each year of the five-year grant period, UNCFSP will receive over $1.8 million to provide summer policy institutes, study abroad, intensive language training, internships, graduate study, student mentoring and career development opportunities for underrepresented minority students from across the nation.

“Over the last 15 years UNCF Special Programs Corporation has had the honor to administer the IIPP Fellowship program,” said Aaron R. Andrews, UNCFSP President and CEO. “It is a privilege to continue the stewardship of IIPP for the next five years as we work to broaden access to international education and training opportunities for underrepresented minority college students. We are training the leaders of tomorrow in the field of international affairs.”

Established on April 1, 2000, the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation, as a spin-off of the United Negro College Fund, is an independently established 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the broad mandate of serving not only Historically Black Colleges and Universities but all minority institutions, domestic and international, including Hispanic Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities. The UNCFSP mission is to organize and deliver educational support services that will address education challenges and innovations.