Tuskegee University has an historic mandate to provide African-Americans with excellent academic opportunities. In 1966, Tuskegee University was the first HBCU to be designated a Registered National Landmark and in 1974 the first to be designated a National Historic site. Tuskegee has about 250 faculty members. One of Tuskegee's strongest assets is its interdisciplinary approach to research.
Interdisciplinary research is conducted in all the colleges.
In addition, there are several centers of excellence funded by federal agencies and private sources engaged in multi-disciplinary research and development activities. Tuskegee's Environmental Sciences and Environmental Engineering programs provide the nucleus for multidisciplinary curricula that provide students a background for environmental careers and research. The center represents a joint effort between the College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health and the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Natural Sciences. The program provides a unique national resource in food production, food processing and food safety as well as computer modeling and information systems. A key strategic partnership with USDA agencies has been formed.