In a “rare” move of corporations donating to a historically Black college or university that isn’t Howard University, Morehouse or Spelman colleges, Walmart Inc. has pledged $2.4 million to Jackson State University, per a press release. 

According to Rolling Out’s Rashad Milligan, JSU’s affiliation with Walmart derives from Deion Sanders, the school’s head football coach. Previously, the company helped fund a new turf practice field and set up COVID-19 immunization sites on campus. 

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While the partnership began with Sanders, the millions will be used to fund case studies, an executive-in-residence program in which Walmart executives will advise faculty on curriculum and lead mentoring circles and key athletic initiatives such as rebuilding the practice field used by JSU athletes.  

The initiative focuses on the three core pillars of academic enrichment, career enrichment and financial support and will benefit all JSU students, including non-athletes. 

Sanders, a professional football Hall of Famer, has been praised as a positive and life-changing addition to JSU since taking over in September 2020. The university has been historically underfunded and as many students will tell you, left out. 

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