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.
Morehouse College in Atlanta has received a $1 million grant as part of a National Science Foundation award to help establish a national ecosystem that democratizes access to state-of-the-art automated technology. In partnership with Stanford University, Purdue University, and Emerald Cloud Lab, Morehouse scholars will create programmable cloud laboratories that allow researchers and students to conduct complex experiments remotely using automated laboratory systems.
Jackson State University in Mississippi received a $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of War to support the HBCU’s capacity to conduct nationally significant, defense-related research. Over the five-year grant period, scholars at Jackson State will work to develop smart-management approaches to protect critical logistics infrastructure — such as ports, roads, bridges, airfields, embankments, and transportation corridors — against physical deterioration, extreme weather, and adversarial threats.
Central State University, one of two historically Black universities in Ohio, received a $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support the university’s infrastructure. The funding will go toward resources for both students and faculty, including critical upgrades for classrooms and residential spaces, as well as new technology infrastructure.
Tuskegee University in Alabama received $10 million from the National Institutes of Health to support the second phase of the HBCU’s National Human Genome Research Institute award for the Carver Genomic Research Center, a research initiative to expand the university’s genomic research capacity and address cancers that disproportionately affect Black communities across Alabama’s Black Belt region. Since launching in 2024, the center has focused on building the infrastructure needed to support modern genomic science. Now the HBCU is ready to begin conducting research on three initial projects: a study investigating genomic drivers of bladder cancer, research on triple-negative breast cancer in women of African ancestry, and an artificial intelligence project designed to improve the analysis and interpretation of cancer pathology slides.
Prairie View A&M University in Texas received a $300,000 grant from the Strada Education Foundation to support its new Micro-Credentialing Initiative. Developed in partnership with Coursera, the initiative allows students to build portfolios of industry-recognized credentials that demonstrate workforce-aligned competencies in areas such as data analytics, project management, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, leadership, and more. Some credentials will be embedded directly into academic courses, while others will be available through the HBCU’s department of career services, where career coaches will help students pursue credentials aligned with their professional goals.
Alabama State University was awarded a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to expanded STEM research and education opportunities for students. Through the project, “Developing Research and Educational Excellence to Attract and Maintain Students in STEM (DREAM-STEM),” scholars at the HBCU will establish a learning environment that provides year-round STEM opportunities for undergraduates, along with summer opportunities for community college and high school students. Programming will emphasize critical and analytical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, and collaboration. DREAM-STEM will also provide faculty-mentored, paid research experiences for students and support faculty professional development aimed at strengthening STEM education and research.
Southern University in Louisiana received a $2.875 million commitment from CareSouth to support the HBCU’s Imagine Southern Capital Campaign, a fundraising initiative supporting scholarships, academic programs, athletics, and other student services. CareSouth’s gift includes funding designated for an endowed scholarship fund, Southern University Athletics, the Southern University “Human Jukebox” Marching Band, the School of Nursing, Southern University System Foundation programming, Southern University Alumni Federation, and Southern University at Shreveport.
