The purpose of the study was to determine the influence federal grants had on research and instruction in the sciences as perceived by 15 predominantly Black private institutions. An instrument was designed to collect the data on the following: (1) the overall science program; (2) the improvement of laboratory instruction as a result of the acquisition of student equipment; (3) the improvement of instruction through new or revised science curricula; (4) the improvement of instruction through faculty professional growth; (5) the improvement of instruction through the recruitment of science faculty; (6) the expansion of student scientific research as a result of the acquisition of facilities; (7) the expansion of student scientific research as a result of faculty professional growth; and (8) the enhancing of academic proficiency of students as a result of improved instruction and/or expanded research. On a scale of 0 to 4 (4 being very great and 0 being none), the institutions' responses indicated the influence of federal grants as being mostly great to very great. (Author/PS)