PHOENIX — A national foundation said it will establish an investigative journalism center at Arizona State University, giving the school $3 million to do so.

The Scripps Howard Foundation announced creation of the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism Monday, along with another to be set up at the University of Maryland, which also received a $3 million grant.

The money will be spread over three years to fund the graduate-level programs.

“We’re really excited about it,” Sarah Cohen, Knight Chair in Data Journalism at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications, told KTAR News 92.3 FM after the announcement.

Students will experience hands-on investigative journalism projects as part of their studies.

“We are honored to be selected for this critically important initiative,” Christopher Callahan, dean of the Cronkite School, said in a statement.

The foundation said students will work with news organizations to report national and international stories.

“The Centers are envisioned as innovative educational programs,” Battinto Batts, director of the journalism fund for the foundation said in a statement.

“Both Arizona State University and the University of Maryland are well-positioned to challenge their students to become ethical, entrepreneurial and courageous investigative journalists.”

The centers honor the legacy of Roy W. Howard, former Scripps-Howard newspaper chain chairman and a pioneering news reporter.

National searches for center directors will launch in the fall and programming will open to students in 2019.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jeremy Foster contributed to this report.

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