The term “part B institution” means any historically Black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation,,
except that any branch campus of a southern institution of higher education that prior to
September 30, 1986, received a grant as an institution with special needs under
section 1060 of this title and was formally recognized by the National Center for Education Statistics as a Historically Black College or University but was determined not to be a part B institution on or after
October 17, 1986, shall, from
July 18, 1988, be considered a part B institution.