15 HBCUs Partner to Achieve R1 Status
Harvard Awards $1M to Strengthen Research Capacity at HBCUs
Fifteen historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have teamed up to pursue Research 1 (R1) status, a designation that identifies institutions with top research programs, according to an article in The Washington Post.
This coalition, the Association of HBCU Research Institutions (AHRI), includes leading HBCUs aiming to amplify the collective voice of HBCU research institutions, elevate their national presence, strengthen policy influence and accelerate transformative research that addresses society’s most pressing challenges at scale.
AHRI is supported by a $1.05 million grant from Harvard University, through its Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative. The coalition is also partnering with the Association of American Universities (AAU).
R1 status, Very High Research Activity, is the nation’s highest tier for research universities, requiring at least $50 million in annual research spending and 70 research doctorates awarded annually. Institutions with R1 status receive more federal funding and often have an easier time recruiting top faculty and students.
Historically, HBCUs have struggled to receive this recognition for their research programs due to systemic inequities and discriminatory assumptions.
The 15 HBCUs working to reach R1 status include:
- Clark Atlanta University (a UNCF-member institution)
- Florida A&M University
- Hampton University
- Howard University
- Jackson State University
- Morgan State University
- North Carolina A&T State University
- Prairie View A&M University
- South Carolina State University
- Southern University
- Tennessee State University
- Texas Southern University
- University of Maryland – Eastern Shore
- Virginia State University