The United States’ tradition of higher education is rooted in the earliest days of North American settlement. Harvard College, founded in 1636 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was followed by numerous state and private colleges that comprised the educational system of colonial America. These institutions were funded through various sources, including state taxes and donations, and primarily trained ministers through religious instruction. Over the 18th and 19th centuries, and as the United States began to take shape as a nation, the landscape of higher education evolved to meet the growing demands of professional training. During this period, the states and the federal government began taking a more defined role in the management and development of higher education.
Beginning in the late 19th century, the United States Congress started to move toward promoting public education in the states added since the thirteen original colonies. The Morrill-Land Grant Act of 1862 ushered in a wave of higher education institutions spreading throughout the Midwest and the South, creating dozens of universities from the University of California to the University of Maine. This legislation's mission was to create centers of practical learning, such as “agriculture, science, military science, and engineering,” which differentiated it from the traditional European focus on classical studies and mathematics. As a result, millions of acres of federally owned land occupied by native peoples were transferred to state control. Many campuses acknowledge their origin but have not actively sought reconciliation with native tribes. In 1994, an effort was made to expand legislation to provide funding to tribal colleges and universities across the West and Southwest. This step successfully broke down barriers to access education and provided numerous tribes and native populations with opportunities that would otherwise be unattainable.
This expansion of the Morrill-Land Grant Act was based on preceding amendments, which provided funding to establish Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the South. This funding allowed African Americans to obtain higher education in areas that deliberately attempted to exclude them from land-grant universities created under the initial legislation. Ultimately, the Morrill-Land Grant Act created hundreds of colleges and universities and expanded access to education for millions.
As public institutions of higher education expanded, they became increasingly reliant on federal funding for research and other innovation-centered projects being conducted on campuses. During World War One, American University was deliberately tasked with creating new weapons that could disincentivize war entirely. Taxpayer-funded research was amplified as more money was poured into medical research, computer science, and applied physics, which drove innovation forward. Today, the Departments of Energy, Health and Human Services, and other major administrative agencies allocate hundreds of billions of dollars to fund relevant research projects.
Research grants combined with programs like the Pell Grant and other tuition-centered funding opportunities, have contributed to an influx of domestic and international students performing innovative research here in the United States. Low-income students and individuals who would otherwise lack the ability to navigate higher education are greatly helped by these programs, receiving ample assistance and reinforcement.
The history of higher education in this country is marked by the involvement and support of a nation pooling resources to reach its goals. At USFCR, we are reminded every day of the diversity of talents across the US, and we thrive by connecting individuals to these opportunities to better themselves and their communities.
Check back in the coming weeks for our next installation in this series, Part III: The Influence of Grants on International Development.
To learn more, feel free to contact us at (866) 216-5343 or grants@usfcr.com.
If you are ready to go after grants but need assistance in the process, USFCR’s Grant Writing Team can help with your organization’s unique program needs.