The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and the University of Phoenix announced Thursday an important new alliance that will allow students at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to take online courses using the University of Phoenix online platform to supplement their on-campus studies.

As part of this alliance, the University of Phoenix, one of the nation's largest for-private higher education institution, will not only offer its online platform to HBCU students, but it will also support TMCF by making possible scholarships for students attending HBCUs.

"Using technology to improve educational outcomes is a must today; and we are excited about the opportunity to partner with University of Phoenix on this innovative solution to help HBCUs offer online courses," TMCF President & CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.  said in a statement. "HBCUs look to TMCF for new opportunities and solutions like this to assist them with building their capacity as they continue to serve the students matriculating on their campuses. This opportunity will give HBCUs access to online learning not previously available."

Individual HBCU institutions that participate in the new alliance will be able to help students satisfy course requirements by completing online offerings at University of Phoenix as part of their semester-based tuition and fees. Students will incur no additional costs under the alliance and can now avoid graduation delays when certain course requirements are hard to access. Students can also remain on track toward on-time completion with courses available through the University of Phoenix online platform.

"We're proud to offer more scholarships and grants for nontraditional students as part of this new alliance, and we are thrilled to join the Thurgood Marshall College Fund in helping more HBCU students reach graduation," Timothy P. Slottow, President of University of Phoenix, said in a statement. "We are eager to help HBCU institutions expand their online education capabilities. It is an honor to help fulfill our mission by partnering with our nation's vitally important Historically Black Colleges and Universities."

All HBCU students enrolled in the online courses offered under this new framework will also have access to the educational tools and resources provided to every current University of Phoenix student, including its online library, academic labs and workshops, 24/7 live math tutoring and other services in the University's online math and writing centers.