WASHINGTON — The Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus and the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics Caucus hosted technology companies and HBCU presidents and leaders on Capitol Hill for the first HBCU STEAM Day of Action.
Tuesday’s gathering connected HBCU and tech industry leaders with members of Congress to amplify the conversation around diversifying the workforce and ensuring that HBCUs receive the funding and resources needed to sustain their institutions and provide quality academic experiences and professional training for students.
“The Bipartisan HBCU Caucus is working hard to address the inequities facing HBCUs. We’ve made progress, but Congress cannot do it alone,” said Rep. Alma S. Adams, co-chair of the caucus. “Leveling the playing field for our schools and our students requires a collective approach to ensure HBCUs have access to the same federal resources and private-sector opportunities as their peer institutions.”
The STEAM Day of Action provided an opportunity for HBCU and tech leaders to meet with the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, House Education and Workforce Committee, House Agriculture Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee on issues related to STEM initiatives, resources for land-grant universities, reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and more.
Collaborations with the STEAM Caucus underscored Rep. Suzanne Bonamici’s point that integrating the arts into STEM “engages more students, especially historically underrepresented populations such as women and minority students.”
“Activating both sides of the brain prepares students to be innovative and creative, both critical skills for success in 21st-century jobs,” said Bonamici, co-chair and co-founder of the STEAM Caucus, which also is bipartisan.
A midday panel and luncheon sponsored by Intel, shifted the conversation to address ways HBCUs and tech leaders can create collaborative partnerships to prepare students for the workforce. An emphasis on more funding, public-private partnerships and including HBCUs in conversations around solutions for creating pipelines to industries fueled the discussion.
