The Women's Initiative Project Center began in the 1992 in an effort to improve the status of university women in all aspects of their lives. The Centers established a resource library with a diverse collection of books, periodicals, videos, and instructional materials.  The Center also embarked upon a series of seminars, and workshops relative to women’s issues.  

In 1994,Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  In 2000, grants were awarded to 18 institutions of Higher Education to adopt comprehensive, coordinate responses to violence crimes against women on campuses.  Southern University was one of three Historically Black Colleges and Universities to received such funding (see details).