Delaware State University President Harry Williams is asking state lawmakers to fund an additional year of Inspire Scholarships.
Williams outlined the school’s fiscal year 2019 budget request before Thanksgiving.
Delaware State University is requesting $42 million from the legislature next year. That’s about 7 million dollars more than it got this year.
Williams, who is leaving DSU in January to run the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, says the proposal is conservative, but helps sustain the university long-term.
“The request that we’re asking for specifically aligns with the mission of the institution and Inspire, which is a scholarship program that’s supported by the state. We’re asking for salary increases to support our faculty and staff.”
The Inspire Scholarship is available to Delaware students who graduate from an in-state school. Students must maintain at least a 2.75 grade point average, be a full-time student and complete community service requirements. But it's only for three years maximum.
“So those students who get that particular grant at the fourth year, when they’re still trying to pursue their degree, those dollars are not available. We have to try to find resources in some cases if we don’t have it, then the parents would have to come with those additional resources.”
