SC, Tenn HBCUs Awarded $30M from DOE to Invest in Next Generation STEM Leaders

Six UNCF-member institutions will receive STEM Grants to build competitive academic programs in underrepresented communities 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $30 million in financial assistance grants to Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) in South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington. These grants, distributed by DOE’s Office of Environmental Management’s (EM) Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP), will help develop highly qualified science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students and foster a well-trained, technically skilled, and inclusive workforce. By advancing the education and training of a culturally diverse workforce of scientists, engineers, and managers, MSIPP builds upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to increase the participation, leadership, and success of students from underrepresented and historically marginalized communities.

“Leveraging the full potential of America’s best and brightest means including students from every pocket of the nation, and of all races and ethnicities,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “With today’s investments, DOE is following through with our previously announced commitments to MSIs to remove barriers and unlock opportunities for millions of Americans—inspiring the next generation of science and technology leaders and positioning America to lead the world in the industries of the future, from artificial intelligence and clean energy to quantum computing and advanced engineering.”

Established in 2014, MSIPP promotes the education and development of the next generation workforce in critical STEM related disciplines that support EM’s mission.  (Read more about MSIPP here)

The MSIs selected to receive the MSIPP grants include:

• Claflin University*
• Allen University*
• Benedict College*
• Clinton College
• Denmark Technical College
• Morris College*
• South Carolina State University
• Voorhees University*
• Tennessee State University in partnership with 2 other MSIs in the state of Tennessee (Award amount: $5 million):
• Fisk University*
  • Meharry Medical College
• Northwest Indian College (NWIC) in Washington (Award amount: $5 million)

^{*UNCF-member institutions}

More than 100 research contracts involving more than 450 students in research projects have been granted under MSIPP since 2014. To date, MSIPP has supported 62 universities and colleges across 22 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

EM plans to continue efforts of addressing the need for building and maintaining a well-trained, technically skilled, and diverse workforce by promoting the education and development of the next generation workforce in STEM, cybersecurity, and additive manufacturing disciplines through MSIPP.

Learn more about MSIPP and how DOE is working to develop the next generation of leaders here.