Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is administrating a three-year National Science Foundation grant for programs to increase the number of women in STEM disciplines. The key goal of Alabama ADVANCE Partnership for Achieving Gender Equity in STEM is to implement institutional changes in those practices and policies that inhibit gender equity and inclusion in STEM at partner institutions. Further, the project aims to increase the representation and visibility of women, racial, ethnic minorities and other social identities in STEM departments by improving recruitment, retention and promotion practices and policies. Partner institutions in the grant project are historically Black Alabama A&M University, historically Black Oakwood University and the University of Alabama at Huntsville.
Historically Black North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro received a $1 million grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation to establish the North Carolina Transportation Center of Excellence in Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Technology. As part of the project, the university will partner with the City of Greensboro to build a road between the university and downtown for autonomous vehicles only.
American University in Washington, D.C. received a two-year, $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to conduct an analysis of university-wide structures, policies, and procedures at the university affecting gender and racial equity in hiring faculty in science, technology, engineering, and math fields.
Historically Black Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina has been awarded a $649,566 grant from the National Science Foundation for the advancement of STEM education. The program will recruit 20 students meeting the project’s criteria who have demonstrated financial need and have an interest in pursuing an undergraduate degree in biology or mathematics. The students will be joined together in a living/learning residence on campus. Student support services will include a one-week summer residential computational skills camp, peer academic coaching, and mentoring.
Fayetteville State University, the historically Black educational institution in North Carolina, received a $500,000 donation from Clarence Lloyd, a retired physician and a member of the university’s Class of 1965. For his donation, the university’s board of trustees voted to name the College of Health Sciences and Technology in his honor. Half of the donation will be added to the university’s endowment. The remaining funds will be earmarked for scholarships, faculty and staff development, and to support an annual speaker’s series.
