As MSU joins the ranks of universities that are paving the way in African American studies, the journey will now be made a little easier.

The university is slated to share a $600,000 grant from the Ford Foundation - an organization committed to providing grants and loans to projects that advance human achievement - with four other universities that are part of the Midwest Consortium for Black Studies.

The consortium consists of a group of research and teaching faculty at MSU, the University of Michigan, the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

MSU will use its share of the grant to develop undergraduate- and graduate-level African American studies programs.

“African American studies is a growing dynamic field of academic inquiry,” said Curtis Stokes, a James Madison College professor.

Stokes is one of the project directors who will be overseeing the use of the grant. He said the university was selected to receive the grant because of the continuing dedication to developing this particular field of study.

History Professor Darlene Clark Hine said the grant will also support “Race in 21st Century America,” a conference that will be held in April.

Clark Hine will work with Stokes to administer the grant. She said the grant will also allow the university to bring scholars to campus, encouraging many students to get involved in other activities outside of the classroom.

“That is something that is extremely valuable to the MSU community,” she said.