- Skip to main content
- About Us
- Contact Us
- FAQs
-  Language Assistance ****    - English
  - español
  - 中文: 繁體版
  - Việt-ngữ
  - 한국어
  - Tagalog
  - Русский 

U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education

        - Student Loans
        - Grants
        - Laws
        - Data

# Biden-Harris Administration Announces $93 Million in Grants to Support Research and Development at HBCUs, TCCUs and MSIs, and Postsecondary Completion for Underserved Students

# Biden-Harris Administration Announces $93 Million in Grants to Support Research and Development at HBCUs, TCCUs and MSIs, and Postsecondary Completion for Underserved Students

December 8, 2023

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

                                    -        
The  U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced today $93 million in grant  awards to 20 colleges and universities to support research and development at  Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled  Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs),  and to improve completion rates for underserved students. 

  The  grants are being provided under the Research and Development Infrastructure  (RDI) program and the Postsecondary Student Success Grant (PSSG) program. The  RDI program provides funds to HBCUs, TCCUs, and MSIs to transform their  research infrastructure, including strengthening research productivity, faculty  expertise, physical infrastructure, and partnerships leading to increases in  external funding. The PSSG program aims to equitably improve postsecondary  student outcomes, including retention, transfer, credit accumulation, and  completion, by leveraging data and implementing, scaling, and rigorously  evaluating evidence-based approaches.

  This  funding builds on the more than $25 billion in funding to HBCUs, MSIs, and  TCCUs through the Department since President Biden took office. Specifically,  $7.3 billion in cumulative investments in HBCUs, $474.5 million for TCCUs, and  $18.1 billion for MSIs. 

  “The  Biden-Harris Administration recognizes the urgency of this moment in higher  education and that creating opportunities for students of color and other  underserved students to succeed in today’s most cutting-edge fields has never  mattered more,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “These grant  awards will help many of our nation’s most inclusive and diverse colleges and  universities expand their capacity to drive research and innovation, and propel  more students to graduation day and fulfilling careers. This is how we Raise  the Bar for college excellence and attainment in this country and close equity  gaps in higher education that have no place in the 21st  century.” 

  RDI  program grants are being awarded to five HBCUs, two TCCUs, three Hispanic-Serving  Institutions (HSIs), and a dual HSI and Asian American and Native American  Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI).  

  For  HBCUs and MSIs, the grant will support institutions in increasing their level  of research activity in alignment with the Carnegie Classification designations  to move from the Doctoral and Professional Universities (D/PU) classification  toward the Doctoral Universities with High Research Activity (R2)  classification. It also will increase their classification from the Doctoral  Universities with High Research Activity (R2) toward the Doctoral Universities  with Very High Research Activity (R1) category. For TCCUs, the funds will  support an increase in research activities, undergraduate research  opportunities, faculty development, research development, and infrastructure,  including physical infrastructure and human capital development. Because of  their central role in educating underserved students, including students of  color, it is important for HBCUs, TCCUs, and MSIs to excel in research activity  that can impact funding, faculty and student recruitment, student research  opportunities, and promote diversity in graduate students and faculty at an  institution.   

  Nine  institutions are receiving grants through PSSG to fund evidence-based  strategies that result in improved outcomes for underserved students. The  funding is being awarded to six grantees that are in the early phase and three  grantees in the mid-phase/expansion phase, based upon the amount of existing  research validating their effectiveness in improving student postsecondary  education outcomes. 

**List of Awardees**  

The  RDI program grantees are: 
- Hampton University (Virginia)       ($4,962,986) to progress to R2 through the establishment of an       Interdisciplinary Climate Science Degree Program embedded in a National       Center for Climate Modeling Research
- Southern University and A&M       College (Louisiana) ($4,999,999) to progress to R1 through establishing       multidisciplinary research centers focused on advanced manufacturing and       biological sciences; executing ambitious faculty hiring and development       efforts; reducing teaching loads to increase research time and providing       seed funding to catalyze innovation; expanding Ph.D. program offerings in       high-demand STEM fields; and implementing efficient grant administration       processes to expand its capacity to secure external funding
- University of Maryland Eastern       Shore (Maryland) ($4,680,568) to progress to R1 through establishing the       Futures Institute, which will recruit Ph.D. students, assistant       professors, a proficient grant writer, and world-leading scientists to       serve as research mentors for faculty and students
- Texas Southern University       (Texas) ($4,996,543) to progress to R1 through increasing research       productivity and innovation; expanding graduate programs; recruiting       faculty expertise; building physical research infrastructure; supporting       human capital development; and establishing academic and industrial       partnerships
- Tennessee State University       (Tennessee) ($4,946,573) to progress to R1 through the establishment of       the Center of Biomedical Sciences to strengthen biomedical and behavioral       research capacity and capabilities
- United Tribes Technical College       (North Dakota) ($2,000,000) to create the Research Den (Dakota Equipment       Nexus) to expand and build new infrastructure; increase STEM research and       research collaborations in the region, including at tribal colleges and       with tribal nations; and achieve sustainable research excellence that       contributes to innovation, workforce development and the economy of the       region
- Blackfeet Community College       (Montana) ($1,999,840) to develop BFCC Access to Lifelong Educational       Opportunities to increase expertise and human capital development in order       to provide programs and services that are reflective of the needs of the       Blackfeet Nation and support the use of Piikani-centered resources by       incorporating both historical and contemporary content of education with       an emphasis on Blackfeet Ways of Knowing
- City College of New York (New       York) ($5,000,000) to progress to R1 through the Translational Research       Excellence Across Disciplines (TREAD) project, which will grow the number       of Ph.D. graduates by building an ecosystem of support for Ph.D. student       recruitment and success; fundraising to create sustainable fellowship       programs; germinating translational research and training in partnership       with industry and government; and developing a training and research       program in convergence science
- The University of Texas-Rio       Grande Valley (Texas) ($5,000,000) to progress to R1 through increasing       the number of successful grant proposals; increasing expenditures;       supporting more doctoral students and postdocs; expanding their faculty       base; and building a stronger doctoral student pipeline
- California State University,       Fullerton (California) ($4,997,384) to progress to R1 through increasing       human capital; investing in technology infrastructure; and increasing       faculty and faculty-mentored student research opportunities, and
- Roosevelt University (Illinois)       ($4,991,504) to progress to R2 through implementing RU Prime: Producing       Research and Innovation through a Mentoring Ecosystem to initiate research       clusters; add or modify two STEM graduate programs; and develop a       vertically integrated research ecosystem supporting underrepresented STEM       students from admission through graduation.

The  PSSG program grantees are:  
- The University System of       Maryland (Maryland) ($3,999,582) to establish peer mentors to implement       coaching-informed practices 
- Long Beach City College       (California) ($4,000,000) to implement the Success and Completion       Achievement Network to create a structured support system for students who       do not enroll in college immediately after high school
- Saint Peter’s University (New       Jersey) ($3,844,614) to establish the Peacock Success by Optimizing Data       and Support Project, which will provide team-based advising,       retention-data platform expansion and training, and establish a Male       Resource Center
- California State University,       Fullerton (California) ($3,999,436) to establish Fullerton RISES:       Re-imagining Success for Every Student to provide interventions for       students who are on academic notice and academically at-risk
- Tulsa Community College       (Oklahoma) ($3,717,502) to redesign its First Year Experience course
- University of California,       Berkeley (California) ($3,034,708) to provide high-need underserved       students with individual success counseling, co-curricular group       programming, peer mentors, supplemental financial aid, and individual       counseling
- City College of New York (New       York) ($7,319,134) to restructure and expand existing programs, including       cohort-based learning, advising, and dedicated tutoring
- Colorado State University       System (Colorado) ($7,844,905) to transform the system’s data strategy,       develop a systemwide advising network, and expand and adapt U-Behavior       which leverages retrieval practice activities, and 
- Georgia State University       (Georgia) ($7,578,694) to integrate personalized, course-specific chatbot       communication into gateway postsecondary math and English courses.
- National University (California) ($4,000,000) to support the development of diverse peer-to-peer support, interactive virtual meeting spaces, and credential rich mentor training programs
   -  Tags: Press Releases
          How Do I Find...?    - Student loans, forgiveness
- Higher Education Rulemaking
- College accreditation
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- FERPA
- FAFSA
- 1098, tax forms
- More...
      Information About...    - Elevating Teaching
- Early Learning
- Engage Every Student
- Unlocking Career Success
- Cybersecurity
Search press releasesSearch for:      Find By Month    - February 2024 
- January 2024 
- December 2023 
- November 2023 
- October 2023 
- September 2023 
- August 2023 
- July 2023 
- June 2023 
- May 2023 
- April 2023 
- March 2023 
- All Press Releases
             
*Our mission* is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
- Student Loans
- Repaying Loans
- Defaulted Loans
- Loan Forgiveness
- Loan Servicers
- Grants & Programs
- Apply for Pell Grants
- Grants Forecast
- Apply for a Grant
- Laws & Guidance
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- FERPA
- Civil Rights
- IDEA Website
- Data & Research
- Education Statistics
- Postsecondary Education Data
- ED Data Express
- Nation's Report Card
- What Works Clearinghouse
- Open Data Platform
- COVID Relief Data
- About Us
- Contact Us
- ED Offices
- Jobs
- Press Releases
- FAQs
- Recursos en español
- Budget, Performance
- Privacy Program
- Homeroom Blog
- Notices
- FOIA
- Privacy Policy
- Accessibility
- Security
- Information Quality
- Inspector General
- Whitehouse.gov
- USA.gov
- Benefits.gov
- Regulations.gov