In September 2023, leaders from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) gathered at Harvard’s Hutchins Center for African & African American Research. Harvard is enhancing its support for HBCUs with a $1.05 million grant. This funding, as part of the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative, aims to bolster research capabilities at 15 HBCUs.
The three-year grant, awarded to the Association of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Research Institutions (AHRI), a new coalition, will assist these schools in expanding their research infrastructure and technical expertise. Harvard’s Office of the Vice Provost for Research will offer technical guidance to help them strive for R1 status, the top research classification in the U.S. “This grant to AHRI strengthens our long-term partnerships with HBCUs,” stated Sara Naomi Bleich, Harvard’s vice provost for special projects. “We are proud to use our research expertise to advance HBCU research excellence.”
This initiative enhances Harvard’s commitment to HBCUs, boosting their potential to attract leading research talent and funding associated with R1 classification. Currently, Howard University is the only HBCU with an R1 status and is a part of AHRI. The grant fulfills Recommendation Three from the 2022 report on Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery, which urged the university to establish enduring bonds with HBCUs.
Tomikia P. LeGrande, president of Prairie View A&M University and AHRI vice chair, noted that AHRI’s creation marks a pivotal moment for HBCU research. The 15 universities in the coalition account for half of all federal research funding awarded to HBCUs, highlighting their research strength and innovation. “Through AHRI, we align our strengths to amplify impact and establish HBCUs as central to the future of research,” she said.
Ruth Simmons, senior adviser on HBCU engagement at Harvard, remarked, “AHRI represents a transformative chapter in the HBCU research field.” Talks between Simmons and Bleich in 2024 focused on how Harvard could bolster HBCU research capacity. “This association fosters collaboration among institutions that traditionally worked in isolation, offering a model of forward-looking higher education.”
Harvard’s Office for Sponsored Programs will also provide guidance to enhance research administration across AHRI institutions. This includes participating in the first AHRI symposium, hosting HBCU staff, and aiding in grants administration. AHRI officially launched on April 29 at Howard University with a national press conference and symposium titled “Expanding the Research Mission of HBCUs.”
Beyond the AHRI grant, the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative supports HBCU leadership through Harvard’s Seminar for New Presidents, fostering collaboration among HBCU and non-HBCU leaders. The initiative also aids capacity building via the HBCU Digital Library Trust, involving over 90 HBCUs in digitizing key collections. Moreover, it funds research opportunities such as the Du Bois Scholars Program, a summer internship for students from 21 research-focused HBCUs.
Original Source: news.harvard.edu
