Ten historically Black colleges and universities will share $97.1 million in federal funding to strengthen their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research capabilities.
The awards, announced Oct. 19 by U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), were made through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions Research and Education Program. The funding is intended to expand research infrastructure, support technical education and help institutions compete for additional federal research and development opportunities.
North Carolina A&T State University, Florida A&M University and Morgan State University will each receive $10 million. Delaware State University will receive $9,998,873, while Texas Southern University will receive $9,997,847. The remaining awards include $9,982,865 for the University of the District of Columbia, $9,905,607 for Fayetteville State University, $9,858,194 for Prairie View A&M University, $9,784,632 for Clark Atlanta University and $7,573,527 for Jackson State University.
The investment is intended to strengthen research capacity at institutions pursuing expanded roles in federally funded science and technology initiatives. Potential uses identified in the announcement include laboratory equipment, defense-related technical coursework and research fellowships for students and faculty.
The awards also align with efforts by several institutions to achieve Research 1 (R1) classification under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. R1 is the system’s highest research-activity designation, based on measures that include research spending and doctoral degree production. Reaching that level requires sustained investment in research infrastructure, faculty, graduate education and institutional capacity; the grants do not guarantee R1 classification.
Warnock, a Morehouse College graduate, has advocated for increased federal investment in HBCUs and expanded access to research funding. He and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, a Republican from Alabama, have also introduced the HBCU Research Capacity Act, which seeks to improve institutions’ access to information about federal research and development opportunities.
The awards provide participating institutions with additional resources to develop research programs, support student and faculty participation, and pursue a broader range of federally funded projects.
