Today, Secretary Miguel Cardona joined President Joe Biden to celebrate the issuance of Executive Order 14214, which establishes the first White House Initiative focused on educational equity and economic opportunity through Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The event was attended by nearly two dozen advocates for these institutions. As part of this initiative, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced close to $19 million in new research infrastructure grants for five HSIs located in Florida, Illinois, Texas, and Puerto Rico. These grants are a component of the U.S. Department of Education’s Research and Development Infrastructure Program (RDI), which is distributing a total of $49 million to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).
The RDI grant program aims to strengthen research capabilities at HBCUs, TCCUs, MSIs, including HSIs. It provides funding for research productivity improvements, faculty expertise development, enhancement of graduate programs, physical infrastructure upgrades, human capital growth, and partnerships that could lead to more external funding.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona stated: “If we want America to remain the most competitive economy in the world, then we need our Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and other Minority-Serving Institutions to be on the cutting-edge of research and development.” He further explained that these awards are intended "to fight funding inequities" ensuring these inclusive institutions have necessary infrastructure "to drive innovation."
In addition to prior investments made by the Biden-Harris Administration in HBCUs, TCCUs and MSIs—including HSIs—these RDI awards coincide with President Biden hosting HSI leaders at the Oval Office. This includes representatives from new RDI grantees like National Louis University in Illinois and University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Campus.
The grants will help ten HSIs and HBCUs elevate their research activities according to Carnegie Classification standards. This advancement supports movement from Doctoral/Professional Universities toward higher classifications based on their research activity levels. Although TCCUs have distinct classification criteria that exclude them from being classified as R1 or R2 universities or D/PU classifications under Carnegie standards; they will still benefit from increased support for undergraduate research opportunities as well as faculty development initiatives aimed at expanding both physical infrastructure along with human capital resources.
The distribution details include Howard University receiving $5 million; Florida A&M University obtaining just under $5 million; Florida Atlantic University granted over $1 million; Clark Atlanta University awarded over $4.5 million; National Louis University securing more than $3 million among others totaling up till approximately forty-nine point four hundred thousand dollars across several states including Georgia Maryland Montana New Mexico North Carolina North Dakota Texas District Columbia etcetera thus far indicating significant federal commitment towards enhancing academic landscape particularly via diverse ethnic lenses nationwide moving forward altogether nevertheless
