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Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute

The Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute, FDPRI, is the nation’s foremost research organization focusing on the educational status of African Americans from pre-school to and through college.

Committed to understanding and expanding the pathways that lead to educational attainment, FDPRI conducts and disseminates research that informs policymakers, educators, philanthropists and the general public on how to best improve educational opportunities for and outcomes of African Americans and other underrepresented minorities across the pre-school-through-college-graduation pipeline.

“A Conversation on Culturally Relevant Practice”

To support the release of UNCF’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute (FDPRI) new report—Culturally Relevant Practice: Implementation among Historically Black Colleges & Universities—CPI hosted a Fireside Chat: “A Conversation on Culturally Relevant Practice,” featuring Dr. Lori Patton Davis, Dr. Venus Evans-Winters, Dr. Nadrea Njoku and Dr. LaToya Owens via Zoom. The panel discussed the importance of equity-focused research and program design, specifically in work with HBCUs and Black students.

Culturally Relevant Practice report coverCulturally Relevant Practice: Implementation among Historically Black Colleges & Universities (2021)

Culturally Relevant Practice: Reading List

Group shot of the 2018 STEM Scholars conference attendeesThe  HBCU Effect® Research Series—by the Numbers

The “HBCU Effect” seeks to understand, validate and promote the success of HBCUs to develop a counter narrative that illustrates the value and competitiveness of our institutions.

 

Our Research and Reports

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FDPRI: Who We Are

FDPRI research has one goal: helping more African American and other underrepresented minority students get to and through college.
Frederick Douglass Patterson with two other men

A History of Accomplishments

Since its inception in 1996, FDPRI has made great strides in the development of research on African Americans in education.
Young child and her mother doing homework on laptop

Whom Do You Trust When it Comes to Your Child’s Education?

When we asked low-income African American parents whose judgment they most respected on matters relating to their children's education, they did not cite authorities or experts. They cited other, more knowledgeable parents.

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Our Member Colleges are Affordable

UNCF HBCUs in a High-Priced College Environment

UNCF-member colleges lead the way in helping to ensure that low-income students are not priced out of an essential education in today’s economy. The FDPRI report, Lower Costs, Higher Returns, reinforces what the historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) community has long known: the 37 UNCF-member institutions continue to offer a reasonably priced education, one that in the 2012-2013 academic year cost 26 percent less than that offered by peer institutions.

Read more about the impact of HBCUs in America

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Make an Investment in Education

Help move students to and through college by investing in UNCF’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute, a go-to source of information on the African American educational experience, HBCUs and their value proposition.

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