Master’s Degree Programs at Historically Black Colleges and 

Universities (MD-HBCU)

FY 2009-2014 Project Abstracts

(CLICK ON PAGE NUMBER TO VIEW ABSTRACT)

ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY 1

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY 2

CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY 3

COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY 4

ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY 5

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY 6

FISK UNIVERSITY 7

FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY 8

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY 9

KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY 10

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY 11

SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY 12

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY 13

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF 14

VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY 15

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY 16

WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY 17

WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY 18
Page | 1

ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090011

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Cassandra Smith

State: New York

Telephone Number: 229-430-3690

E-mail Address: cmsmith@asurams.edu

With support from the United States Department of Education, we propose to contribute to increase the 

demand in master’s degree nurses in Georgia and in the United States by enhancing and expanding our 

master’s degree nursing and mathematics programs at Albany State University (ASU). Employment 

opportunities are expected to grow much faster for registered nurses (RNs) than for most other 

occupations. Yet a major shortage of nurses is projected by 2020. A nurse faculty shortage and 

financially strapped colleges and universities are limiting the ability of U.S. nursing schools to take 

advantage of historically high numbers of qualified applicants. Increased public subsidies are needed to 

provide greater access to nursing education; ASU anticipates the proposed Albany State University 

Master Degree Expansion and Enhancement Program (ASUMDEEP) will greatly assist in this national 

effort. In addition, the number of African-Americans prepared at the master’s degree level in the area of 

Mathematics is below that of national average.

The ASUMDEEP program will enhance the academic preparation of low-income/African-American 

students for master’s degree study through involvement in research and scholarly activities. The 

ASUMDEEP program will assist in the academic and professional development of students whose goal is 

to teach and conduct research at the college level and to be midlevel providers. In order to help students 

achieve the goals, the program will sponsor and support students with experiences that lay the foundation 

for a successful nursing graduate school experience. By fostering mentoring relationships, providing 

financial assistance, promoting research, providing academic tutorial for nursing and mathematics 

courses, assisting with faculty development, and encouraging students to present at conferences, we aim 

to produce highly competitive master level students who have the skills and experiences necessary to 

succeed in their programs. 

The proposed project will expand and enhance the nursing master’s degree program by increasing the 

capacity of the nursing program in two phases. The first phase will enhance the current program to 

include the purchase of library books, periodical and journals, offering of tutorials, offering of nursing 

fellowships, faculty development and the offering of financial and economic literacy workshops. The 

second phase will expand the current program to restoration of a suspended track in nursing 

administration and add a concentration in forensic nursing. The current program has been plagued with 

low enrollment due to low number of faculty and preceptors. In addition, there will be a limited focus on 

enhancing mathematics education.
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ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090015

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Donzell Lee

State: Mississippi

Telephone Number: 601-877-6122

E-mail Address: dlee@alcorn.edu

The purpose of the project is to strengthen graduate education at Alcorn State University by: (1) 

providing greater access and increasing enrollment in degree programs through distance learning and 

increasing the number of graduate faculty; (2) providing financial assistance to needy students; (3) 

improving infrastructure through the renovation of existing space and the purchase of modern teaching 

equipment; and (4) improving library and learning resources through the acquisition of books, journals, 

and online research database subscriptions.

Graduate programs in three academic units are targeted for inclusion in this proposal, including the 

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, the Department of Biological Sciences, and the 

Department of M.S. Degree Nursing. In addition, the School of Graduate Studies, with the assistance of 

the university’s Marketing and Development unit, will develop, implement, and administer a program to 

strengthen contributions from alumni and the private sector to ensure the sustainability of graduate 

programs.

Distance learning courses, utilizing video conferencing technology and Web-based portals, will be 

developed and implemented in graduate programs in the Department of Mathematics and Computer 

Science, and the Department of Graduate Degree Nursing. In the Department of Biological Sciences, 

junior faculty members will be groomed to become graduate faculty. These activities will allow for both, 

improved access and increased enrollment in the targeted units. Assistantships will be provided for needy, 

talented students who, for financial reasons, would not be able to pursue a graduate degree. This will 

complement the distance learning activities in the effort to increase enrollment and improve access. The 

renovation of space in the School of Nursing will provide additional research and teaching facilities for 

graduate nursing students. All units will engage in upgrading library and learning resources through the 

acquisitions for the main library and for departmental resource center. A School of Graduate Studies 

Development Team will be established to devise and implement a marketing and development program to 

sustain curricular, infrastructure, and resource improvements.
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CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090010

Project Director’s Name: Ms. Veronica Goodman

State: South Carolina

Telephone Number: 803-535-5540

E-mail Address: vgoodman@claflin.edu

Claflin University, the oldest Historically Black College or University in the State of South Carolina, 

prepares students at the master’s degree level in three programs, one of which is the Master of Science in 

Biotechnology degree offered through the Department of Biology within the School of Natural Sciences 

and Mathematics. This program began in 2002, and has successfully been training minority students at 

the graduate level to take their place in the Nation’s scientific workforce. This application outlines a 

proposal to the Historically Black Colleges and University Master’s Degree Program for support to build 

the program and increase the number of students from the program who are well prepared for further 

training at Ph.D. programs at research one institutions or for jobs in the Nation’s growing biotechnology 

or related sciences sector.

In particular, the program will provide infrastructure improvement for the graduate research program at 

Claflin that will renovate and update technology in the classrooms and laboratories; bring additional 

research equipment to increase the training and research productivity of the faculty and graduate students; 

support faculty development and recruitment; offer competitive scholarships to African-American and 

low-income students so that they can afford to participate in the science training enterprise; and increase 

the number of students being trained in the program.

These initiatives will add to the intellectual capital of the nation and provide vital human resources to 

invest better futures for all Americans.
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COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090005

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Marcella Copes

State: Maryland

Telephone Number: 410-951-3990

E-mail Address: mcopes@coppin.edu

The mission of Coppin's Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) for Family Nurse Practitioners 

(FNP) is to prepare graduate nurses with advanced knowledge and practice skills. The focus is preparing 

nurses to provide advanced nursing care to underserved urban populations. The program of study 

integrates cultural norms, values, and health practices of underserved and vulnerable populations. The 

well-integrated curriculum is the basis for students emerging with excellence in nursing. This project will 

improve graduate educational opportunities for African-Americans and low-income students in Baltimore 

City, which will lead to greater financial independence for our program completers.

This project has five major activities:

1. Establish an Office of Development to raise additional resources for the School of Nursing to 

strengthen and increase contributions from alumni and the private sector to support a variety of 

areas such as scholarships for students, new lab equipment and various research endeavors.

2. Faculty professional development to train faculty on the use and operation of different simulator 

technologies; assist faculty educators in developing curriculums that integrate simulation training 

along with operational training, and participate in testing and running medical scenarios and 

prepare faculty to set up facilities and equipment on a day-to-day basis.

3. Expansion and enhancement of the masters in nursing program with a focus on nurse education. 

Graduate 10 students by the end of the project period.

4. Increase resources for students with the purchase of library books, periodicals, technical and other 

scientific journals, microfilm, microfiche, and other educational materials, including 

telecommunications program materials and technology.

5. Provide scholarships, fellowships, and other financial assistance for needy graduate students to 

permit the enrollment of students in and completion of a master’s degree in nursing.

By fulfilling these activities, the School of Nursing will have greater resources to improve graduate 

educational opportunities for African-American and low-income students and lead to the school’s greater 

financial independence.
Page | 5

ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090002

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Paula Viltz

State: North Carolina

Telephone Number: 252-335-3455

E-mail Address: psviltz@mail.ecsu.edu

This important project offers Elizabeth City State University the opportunity to continue the work that has 

been a part of its history of providing education and holistic academic services to underrepresented 

groups. The funds from this grant will be applied to our efforts to strengthen and ensure the quality of our 

existing masters programs in Biology and Mathematics by providing personnel, materials and scholarship 

funds. This added program fortification, will serve to increase graduate student enrollment, retention and 

graduation rates specifically for African-American and low-income students. In addition, funds will be 

used to create a new Professional Science Masters (PSM) Program in Applied Mathematics and an added 

focus on Science Education in Biology.

Our planned activities of creating a graduate student office and computer laboratory; hiring additional 

administrative staff; increasing recruiting efforts; awarding scholarships and providing important 

resources and materials for graduate students and faculty will address five important goals which the 

program intends to accomplish. These goals are:

1. to increase the number of graduate students who are recruited and enrolled in the qualified 

programs of Biology and Mathematics;

2. to increase graduate student retention and graduation rates;

3. to strengthen and fortify existing qualified graduate programs in Biology and Mathematics;

4. to increase the number of graduate program offerings; and

5. to increase graduate student services.

Meeting the goals outlined above will produce more African-American and low-income students with a 

graduate degree in the critical need areas of Biology and Mathematics. These students, equipped with 

their advanced skills and degree, will have a better chance of finding employment.

The potential income gain from achieving a master’s degree is substantial. Data from the U. S. Census 

Bureau show that over their working lifetimes, those persons whose highest degree is a master’s can 

expect to earn an average of $2.5 million, while those with only a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn 

$2.1 million. In 2007, the median annual earnings of master’s degree recipients was more than $10,000 

higher than the median for those with only a bachelor’s degree ($60,320 compared to $49,710)(U.S. 

Census Bureau, 2007).

This project will improve graduate educational opportunities for African-Americans and low-income 

students and lead to their greater financial independence.
Page | 6

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090012

Project Director’s Name: Ms. Tendai Johnson

State: North Carolina

Telephone Number: 910-672-1612

E-mail Address: tejohnson@uncfsu.edu

The HBCU Masters degree program will strengthen and improve graduate education at Fayetteville State 

University (FSU) by providing financial assistance, academic and non-academic assistance and support 

to African-American and low-income students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and 

mathematics) and related disciplines to increase their enrollment, persistence, progression and 

graduation; enhance existing STEM and related degree programs; establishing new STEM degree 

programs; providing research and development opportunities for both faculty and students; and 

establishing a support office to ensure program implementation and the achievement of the 

aforementioned goals and objectives. FSU’s program is specifically designed to accomplish the 

following objectives:

1. Increase the number of African-Americans and low-income students who earn degrees in STEM 

and related programs by providing scholarships and stipends; and to provide opportunities for 

students to engage in research and internships in their respective degree programs.

2. Improve the preparation of public school teachers in the STEM disciplines by offering 

opportunities for graduate education.

3. Strengthen and update graduate programs in mathematics and biology and develop new master’s 

degree programs and certificates to meet industry, employment and market demands.

4. Attract, retain and support graduate faculty members by providing support for research, 

publications, and professional development opportunities and activities.

5. Provide academic support and counseling resources to assist students to achieve success in STEM 

disciplines.
Page | 7

FISK UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090004

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Arnold Burger

State: Tennessee

Telephone Number: 615-329-8516

E-mail Address: aburger@fisk.edu

Through the U.S. Department of Education initiative for HBCU’s Masters Degree Program grant, Fisk 

University seeks to establish a six-year project that will enhance the academic performance of its master’s 

degrees programs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics by upgrading its research facilities, providing 

financial assistance to a larger number of qualifying students and disseminating best practices across 

campus in recruiting, mentoring and engaging graduate students in cutting-edge, collaborative research. 

We will thus significantly contribute to increasing the number of needy and African-American graduate 

students receiving advanced degrees in disciplines in which African-Americans are underrepresented.
Page | 8

FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090013

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Anand Yadav

State: Georgia

Telephone Number: 478-825-6807

E-mail Address: yadava@fvsu.edu

The Fort Valley State University (FVSU) is a public, senior, 1890 land-grant university (LGU) serving 

Georgia and the United States of America. Founded in 1895 mainly to serve educational needs of 

African-American and underserved students, the university provides instruction, research and 

public/extension services consistent with its land-grant and public functions for all Americans to achieve 

their personal, educational and professional goals. Further, it provides a learning/living environment 

enabling its graduates and all who come under its influence to become innovative and critical thinkers, 

problem-solvers and responsible citizens. The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia 

designated it as a Land-Grant Institution in 1947 and as the Fort Valley State University in 1996. The 

FVSU has a long history of service to the Middle Georgia area with a 115-year-old legacy. FVSU’s 

unique location reaches low-income and African-Americans who are underprivileged, underserved and 

poor, and serves rural communities. FVSU is one of three agricultural colleges in Georgia and the 

primary resource for African-American and low-income residents. FVSU offers baccalaureate, master’s 

and collaborative degrees. The FVSU has three qualified graduate programs in STEM disciplines (M.S. 

in Biotechnology, M.S. in Animal Science and Master’s in Public Health) eligible for help, and we aspire 

to develop higher level degree programs in the near future. The FVSU faculty has a proven track record 

in education and research in STEM disciplines with some research areas having national prominence. We 

are committed to enhance opportunities for the intellectual, personal and professional development of 

underserved Americans in the state and a limited cohort in the United States. Our broad-based curriculum 

allows specialization in the arts and sciences and technology and our international programs disseminate 

new knowledge and technology to globally improve quality of life. Yet, being a small institution of 

higher education with inadequate resources we cannot accomplish everything we are motivated to 

achieve.

Thus, our goals and objectives at the FVSU are to improve graduate capabilities by achieving adequacies 

in library holdings of scientific references, laboratory/office equipment, available funding for teaching / 

research assistantships to support students from underprivileged and low-income communities among 

other requirements for a rapidly expanding and growing institution like the FVSU. The foremost goal and 

the key objective of FVSU -- to serve the educational needs of African-Americans that are underserved 

and the low-income American students -- would be achieved by providing educational opportunities, with 

special interest for the rural population, and by increasing the graduation rate at FVSU. Our competitive 

alumni will collaborate with institutions, government, industry, and other entities to provide our students 

with advanced internship/training in qualified STEM disciplines. We will initiate graduate programs 

including master’s/doctor’s degrees in some STEM disciplines to stay competitive with 1890 LGUs and 

other HBCUs, provide avenues for our graduates to pursue terminal and professional degrees at 

institutions that collaborate with FVSU, and provide to students information on outlets for suitable 

employment.
Page | 9

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090016

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Robert Dixon

State: Louisiana

Telephone Number: 318-274-6141

E-mail Address: dixonr@gram.edu

An important caveat to the widely documented nursing shortage is the underrepresentation of AfricanAmerican Registered Nurses (RNs) in the United States. Only 5.4 percent of all Registered Nurses are 

African-American, 11 percent of this small number has advanced degrees. Grambling State University 

(GSU) proposes to use these funds to expand and grow its graduate nursing program by increasing the 

number of African-American students who enroll and graduate with an MSN (master of science nursing) 

degree from Grambling State University. Through faculty and student research and through professional 

practice, the School of Nursing also proposes to address the reduction of health disparities among 

African-Americans in the state of Louisiana and the regions.

The main goals of GSU’s grant proposal are to use these funds to increase African-American Nurse 

Educator student enrollment by 100 percent and increase African-American Nurse Practitioner student 

enrollment by 200 percent through enhanced recruitment and retention. Another goal is to increase 

research productivity of faculty and students of the MSN program by 200 percent. Research productivity 

will be measured by the number of articles published and number of conference presentations made. 

These goals will be accomplished through a sequential plan utilizing several activities allowed by the 

HBCU Master’s Degree Program as outlined below:

1. Renovate and improve class room space. 

2. Establish a Graduate Retention Office.

3. Award scholarships to qualified African-American students.

4. Support faculty and students research efforts.

5. Support and encourage faculty and student professional development.

A summative evaluation will be conducted at the end of Year two and each of the subsequent years. The 

data used for this evaluation will include mid-term and final grade distributions in graduate level courses, 

the overall grade point average of the students in the program, the number of professional development 

activities the faculty engage in, the retention rate of the students, the number of collaborative research 

projects between faculty and students, placement of program graduates, and the number of 

publications/presentations given by the students and faculty. 

As a result of this endeavor, the MSN program at Grambling State University will expand, and through 

improved research efforts and professional practice contribute to the reduction of health disparities 

evident in African-Americans in this region.
Page | 10

KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090009

Project Director’s Name: Ms. Angela Curry

State: Kentucky

Telephone Number: 502-597-6414

E-mail Address: angela.curry@kysu.edu

Kentucky State University (KSU), a diverse and unique liberal studies 1890 Land Grant institution, is a 

comprehensive institution that effectively utilizes its resources to create an exceptional learning 

community. In its curricula, services, and outreach, Kentucky State University is committed to its rich 

heritage and dedicated to its future. Outstanding faculty and staff prepare leaders committed to pursuing 

opportunities for expression and participation in the life of the university, the Commonwealth, the nation, 

and the world.

Kentucky State University’s College of Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Health (CMSTH) is a 

fundamental component of the University’s dynamic learning community. CMSTH faculty and staff are 

committed to achieving excellence in classroom and laboratory instruction. CMSTH prepares students 

for a full spectrum of work in the fields of science and mathematics. The college houses graduate 

programs in Aquaculture/Aquatic sciences, Computer Science, and Environmental Studies. These 

graduate degree programs prepare students to become scholars, researchers, and professionals who break 

new ground in their respective disciplines and communicate ideas effectively. Graduates from these 

programs are also prepared to pursue advanced education at the doctoral level. 

With funds made available under the HBCU Masters Degree Program, KSU will strengthen master’s 

degrees programs in Aquaculture, Computer Science, and Environmental Studies. The university will 

enhance these programs by establishing activities designed to increase the enrollment of minority and 

economically disadvantaged students. The university will also strengthen these programs through the 

purchase of critical scientific equipment, the acquisition of important journals and periodicals, and the 

support of faculty development. The university will measure the success of these initiatives by a marked 

increase in the enrollment of students, particularly minority and economically disadvantages students. 

Success will also be measured by expanded technological capacity, improved scientific equipment, and 

enhanced classroom instruction. Success in these areas will, over the next six years, prepare these 

programs to thrive without the need of federal support. 

Over the next six years, the university will tailor both the grant program and the university’s general 

budget to ensure that the initiatives outlined in this application are fully institutionalized. The university 

is confident that the use of grant funds will greatly enhance the graduate programs selected as graduation 

rates increase, technological capacity is enhanced, and enrollment expands. Clearly, these funds will play 

a pivotal role in the success of these programs.
Page | 11

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090017

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Abigail Newsome

State: Mississippi

Telephone Number: 662-254-3395

E-mail Address: asnewsome@mvsu.edu

The state of Mississippi has the largest percentage population of African-American individuals in the 

United States, yet remains well below national averages in the enrollment into and graduation from 

doctoral programs within the state. These percentages are particularly low in the biological sciences. 

Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) is a historically black university located in rural Itta Bena, 

Mississippi. Upon perusal of MVSU’s statistics, one finds that 95 percent of all students are AfricanAmerican with at least 90 percent receiving financial aid, many of whom are first-generation students. 

This, coupled with the fact that only approximately 20-25 percent of the admitted freshmen in biology, for 

example, complete the bachelor's degree and only approximately 15 percent of these go on to graduate 

studies, makes an alarming case for some type of intervention. We hypothesize that participation of 

undergraduate students in a structured research program with accomplishable goals will instill interest and 

confidence leading to career decisions to pursue graduate degrees in research based disciplines, such as 

the STEM Master’s Degree Program at MVSU in Bioinformatics. We are also proposing to provide 

student and faculty developmental support, graduate research assistantships and program/facility 

enhancements as well as introduce a new Master’s Degree Program in Mathematics Education. 
Page | 12

SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090003

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Mary Carla Curran

State: Georgia

Telephone Number: 912-691-7434

E-mail Address: curranc@savannahstate.edu

The National Science Foundation (NSF) reports that from 1995 to 2004 there was an average of 15.4 

African-American graduates per year from the geosciences (earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences) 

(NSF, 2006). During its first seven years the Master of Science in Marine Sciences (MSMS) Program at 

Savannah State University (SSU) produced four African-Americans graduates thus significantly 

contributing to the diversity of this field. 

The goal of this proposal is to further strengthen our mission to recruit greater diversity into the marine 

sciences. We aim to achieve this by: (1) improving research opportunities offered to graduate students at 

SSU through salary and assistantships, seed money for graduate student research and travel, research 

supplies, and enhanced faculty-student mentorship; and (2) expanding training and quality of instruction 

received by graduate students through advanced training in instrumentation and equipment, support for 

external thesis reviewers and seminar speakers, and professional opportunities. 

Although the MSMS program has demonstrated its strengths in its seven years of existence, we anticipate 

that the proposed support will increase the diversity and number of our graduates by offering more 

opportunities in research and financial support for African-American and low-income students. Funds of 

$3.0 million are requested for a six-year term. Program activities will be led by Principle Investigator 

Curran with support and participation by all faculty in the Marine Science Program.
Page | 13

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090006

Project Director’s Nam e: Dr. Kenneth Lewis

State: South Carolina

Telephone Number: 803-536-8860

E-mail Address: klewis31@scsu.edu

The Master of Science Degree in Transportation at South Carolina State University was implemented in 

2003. The first two graduates were produced in December 2005. Since that time, there have been 

approximately twenty-five graduates. Currently, the predominant tract of study and research is 

Transportation policy and planning. The purpose of this grant proposal is to: (1) to increase the number 

of underrepresented and/or indigent students pursuing the Master’s degree in Transportation by eight 

students above the normal admission level (thereby doubling the number of candidates entering the 

program), especially focusing on minority students with strong analytical and scientific backgrounds; (2) 

to promote faculty development and student research opportunities by expanding the research areas of the 

program to include Transportation logistics; quantitative traffic flow pattern analysis and optimization; 

Highway construction methods and materials; Bio-fuels research, including Bio-diesel, Bio-ethanol, Biobutanol, and Bio-hydrogen research; and (3) a third objective would be the development of a related 

master’s degree program entitled “Master of Science in Energy and Environment” which explores the use 

and large-scale manufacture of alternative fuels and investigates the environmental impact of using them.

South Carolina State University is a Historically Black state-assisted 1890 Land Grant University located 

in Orangeburg, South Carolina. The current enrollment is approximately 5,000, including 4,500 

undergraduates.
Page | 14

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF

PR Award Number: P382G090001

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Mary Benjamin

State: Arkansas

Telephone Number: 870-575-7165

E-mail Address: benjaminm@uapb.edu

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) is an HBCU, land grant institution located in the 

Arkansas Delta, home of Arkansas’ largest Black population. The university has an enrollment of 3525 

students, (94.5 percent Black) of which 128 are enrolled in five graduate programs (2007). UAPB 

proposes to implement a set of well-integrated Science enrichment activities to increase the number of 

minority and low-income master’s degree science graduates. The goal of the project, the UAPB Graduate 

Science Enrichment Project, is to strengthen and expand graduate degree offerings, graduate degree 

productivity, and scholarship productivity in science with a focus on Black and low-income students. 

Embedded in the goal are seven objectives focused on the refinement of the M.Ed. degrees in Science 

(life science and physical science) and in Mathematics Education to address current National Council for 

Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards and Arkansas licensure requirements. This 

enrichment program is designed to help increase the number of minority and low-income students who 

are positioned for success on meeting PRAXIS II (content) as well as state licensure. This will be 

achieved by aligning the curricula and courses to PRAXIS content in science and mathematics; by 

offering a series of PRAXIS workshops, requiring a field experience in 7-12 public schools, placing 

greater emphasis on scientific writing, and the infusion of more technology in the curricula. 

Assistantships are included as a strategy to increase enrollment in the master’s degree programs by 

alleviating the need for financially challenged graduate students to take part-time jobs outside of 

academia and thereby increasing their time for graduate study. 

The UAPB Graduate Science Project (UGSP) also includes the development of a new graduate 

educational opportunity for minority and low-income students in the Arkansas Delta. The M.S. degree in 

Computer Science and Technology will be an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare graduates for 

leadership roles in business information technology and management in the global economy. 

Undergirding the enrichment of graduate science program at UAPB is a structured recruitment program 

designed to help make Black and low-income students more aware of science careers and curricula 

requirements for mastery of expected science knowledge and skills, a graduate assistantship program, and 

the creation of an early recruitment pipeline from existing undergraduate science, technology, 

engineering, and mathematics (STEM) enrichment programs (HBCU-UP and Arkansas Louis Stokes 

Alliance for Minority Participation), and Upward Bound to the graduate science program.
Page | 15

VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090018

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Pamela Leigh-Mack

State: Virginia

Telephone Number: 804-524-8989

E-mail Address: pleigh-mack@vsu.edu

Virginia State University (VSU) is a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and 

comprehensive coeducational land-grant institution located in central Virginia. The University has an 

enrollment of approximately 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students, of which over 90 percent is 

Black. Eleven percent of the university’s enrollment is graduate students. master’s degree programs in 

the STEM disciplines are offered in Biology, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Psychology. The 

programs of Biology, Computer Science, and Mathematics are supported under the HBCU master’s 

degree program and all have been included as part of the proposed project.

The overarching goal of this project is to strengthen VSU’s STEM graduate programs and enhance the 

educational opportunities of the graduate students, particularly African-Americans and low-income. This 

goal will be accomplished through several activities throughout the project including the purchase of 

laboratory equipment and software; financial assistance for graduate students; funds and administrative 

management; student service programs; faculty and student professional development; and graduate 

student space modification. These activities have been selected in order to meet the project objectives 

which are as follows: 

1) by Year 4, secure employment or graduate school admission of 95 percent 

of program participants;

2) by Year 3, have 95 percent of participants present at a conference;

3) increase the number and full-time enrollment of African-American/low-income students, to 

50 percent of total enrollees by the end of the grant period;

4) increase the number of African-American/low-income graduates by 60 percent, 

by the end of the grant period; 

5) by Year 5, increase the percentage of students continuing for doctoral 

level work to 30 percent of those completing a degree; and

6) by Year 3, users will be able to access student academic and financial data, 

and use for reporting.

With the support under the HBCU Masters Program, Virginia State University’s STEM graduate 

education will be tremendously impacted and the university’s stature will significantly rise.
Page | 16

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090007

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Charles Byers

State: West Virginia

Telephone Number: 304-766-3148

E-mail Address: rcbyers@wvstateu.edu

West Virginia State University (WVSU) seeks approval for funding from the Historically Black College 

and Universities (HBCU) Masters Degree Program through this application to strengthen two existing 

master’s degree programs and assist in the development of one proposed program. The current 

biotechnology and the technology concentration of the media studies master degree programs will be 

funded. 

The master’s degree programs in both biotechnology and media studies are relatively new and are need of 

assistance. Both programs are presently at capacity in student enrollment totaling 42 students. Since 

inception during the fall of 2003, a total 104 student have been enrolled. Both graduate programs that are 

accredited by the Higher Education Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and 

Schools.

Planned new activities include fellowships, purchase of equipment and education materials, maintenance, 

renovation, improvements in classroom, library, laboratory, faculty development and administrative 

management. These activities will be part of the first year funding and will vary in future years as needs 

are fulfilled. The HBCU Masters Program will aid in strengthening several areas to ensure a quality 

education for empowering black and low income students to achieve excellence in their chosen fields.

Many black and low-income students need financial assistance to matriculate at the graduate level. 

Currently, all WVSU graduate students are on some form of assistance. The HBCU Masters Program 

will support funding for fellowships and other forms of assistance needed to promote a quality education 

more free from daily financial concern.

Dedicated program management and faculty development hopefully will provide the effective attention 

that students require who may have felt insecure. Faculty and staff training are necessary in meeting the 

needs of many students who will benefit from the program of “Educating, Enriching, & Empowering 

Program for Excellence.” This program will not be a label for students to be singled out, but rather a 

signal for faculty and staff to realize their commitment to except federal funds and also understand the 

intent of the legislation.

Setting goals and objectives, proper evaluation, and commitment to the program will produce quality 

graduate student who will be equipped to meet the challenges for a global society.
Page | 17

WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090008

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Aaron Horne

State: Ohio

Telephone Number: 937-708-5685

E-mail Address: ahorne@wilberforce.edu

Wilberforce University is requesting funding for its Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Program 

(MCRP) to establish a solid foundation through preparing African-Americans and low-income graduate 

students for the 21st century. The Mission of Wilberforce University’s Masters in Rehabilitation 

Counseling Program (MRCP) is to educate men and women for high quality, relevant, cutting-edge and 

professionally certified rehabilitation counseling and services delivery to individuals who experience 

varying physical, mental or emotional impairments, traumatic injuries, substance abuse or other acquired 

conditions.

Thus, the University’s Masters Program clearly addresses the gap in our society’s capacity to address the 

near absence of rehabilitation counselors who can serve effectively the rehabilitation needs of AfricanAmerican and other minority and underserved populations. A master’s degree and professional 

certification is an absolute requirement in the area of rehabilitation counseling profession. The MRCP 

contributes to and provides sustainable rehabilitation delivery system improvements by increasing the 

pool of graduate credentialed African-American professionals who enter the rehabilitation profession or 

who seek to increase their credentials to qualify for promotion and advancement and financial 

independence.

In order to achieve the above this proposal will implement the following activities: hiring new faculty; 

establishing need based financing; facilitating recruitment and retention; developing a cohort model; 

creating a graduate rehabilitation MRCP resource center; implementing delivery of courses online; 

creating MRCP endowment; renovating facilities; providing a tutoring and student service program; and 

increasing opportunities for faculty professional development.
Page | 18

WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

PR Award Number: P382G090014

Project Director’s Name: Dr. Fidelis Ikem

State: North Carolina

Telephone Number: 336-750-2387

E-mail Address: ikemfm@wssu.edu

The dearth of minorities, especially African-Americans, in the STEM and Allied Health fields is well 

documented. For example, it is estimated that fewer than five percent of the M.S. degree holders in 

Biology are African-Americans. In the State of North Carolina, the recognition of the depth of this 

problem led to its inclusion among the goals that would be addressed by institutions that make up the 

University of North Carolina (UNC) system as part of a system-wide strategic planning nicknamed UNC 

Tomorrow. Section 4.2.5 of the UNC Tomorrow document states in part that: “UNC should increase the 

educational attainment of all underrepresented populations, especially African-American males and 

Hispanic students.” 

This proposal seeks funding in the amount of $500,000 per year for six years to enhance graduate 

education in the STEM and Allied Health disciplines as part of Winston-Salem State University’s 

(WSSU’s) contribution to increasing the number of African-American and low-income students who earn 

a master’s degree in the STEM and Allied Health fields. More specifically, the amount will be used to 

fund eligible activities that will enhance WSSU’s ability to produce African-American and low-income 

master’s degree graduates in Nursing, Physical Therapy, Computer Science & Information Technology, 

Rehabilitation Counseling, Occupational Therapy, Mathematics Education and Science Education and to 

start one new master’s degree program in Integrative Biosciences.

The amount requested will be used to fund scholarships; peer and/or professional tutoring; attendance at 

professional conferences; increase in our library holdings in the approved fields; faculty professional 

development and participation in professional conferences; and to establish an endowment fund to ensure 

continuity when this funding expires. Through these activities, we expect to contribute to the national 

goal of increasing the number of African-American and low-income students who pursue and earn their 

master’s degree in the STEM and Allied Health fields while strengthening these programs at WinstonSalem State University.

Winston-Salem State University has a strong track record of producing African-American and other 

underrepresented minority graduates with master’s degrees. For the 2008-2009 academic year, total 

enrollment in these programs was 596. Of the total enrollment population, 337 (or 56.5 percent) of them 

were African-Americans. During the same period, these programs produced 93 graduates with masters’ 

degrees. Fifty-five (or 59 percent) of them were African-Americans. It is expected that the planned 

activities allowed under this grant will strengthen graduate education at WSSU, improve graduate 

education opportunities for African-American and low-income students in the STEM and Allied Health 

fields.

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5/26/2011