The U.S. Department of Education unveiled grants to bolster Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority-Serving Institutions and student success, reinforcing equitable education initiatives and research infrastructure. The grants intend to boost completion and retention rates among underserved students, marking a significant step toward achieving equitable higher education outcomes, according to an Aug. 1 news release.

"At a time when diversity in higher education is under attack, it’s never been more important to invest in our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Minority-Serving Institutions, community colleges and other inclusive institutions," U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in the release.

The Historically Black Colleges or Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges or Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions Research and Development Infrastructure Grant Program is designed to allocate $50 million to support transformative investments in research infrastructure, the release said. This includes enhancing research productivity, faculty expertise, graduate programs, physical infrastructure, human capital development and partnerships leading to increased external funding.

Totaling nearly $100 million, these grants follow a series of funding initiatives that have invested more than $25 billion in HBCUs, TCCUs and MSIs since President Joe Biden assumed office, the release reported. This sustained effort spotlights the administration's commitment to advancing inclusivity and diversity in the education sector.

For HBCUs and MSIs, the grant seeks to elevate research activity levels to align with Carnegie Classification designations, moving from the Doctoral and Professional Universities classification toward the Doctoral Universities with High Research Activity or even Very High Research Activity classifications, the release said. 

For TCCUs, which possess unique Carnegie Classification designations, the funding will facilitate research activity augmentation, faculty and infrastructure development and fostering undergraduate research opportunities, according to the release.

The Postsecondary Student Success Grant, aligned with the department's Raise the Bar Initiative, targets improving outcomes for underserved students. With a focus on equitable advancements in postsecondary student outcomes such as retention, transfer, credit accumulation and completion, this grant will allocate $45 million, the release reported. 

This grant will play a crucial role in addressing these challenges, catering to the evolving needs of a growing number of non-traditional students in higher education. It aims to leverage data-driven decisions and implement evidence-based activities that support inclusive student success, the release said.

"These grant programs represent opportunities for our nation’s most inclusive and diverse colleges and universities to expand their capacity to drive research and innovation and strengthen evidence-based supports that help underserved students successfully complete their degrees and build brighter futures," Cardona said in the release