Mission and Goals

Research Spotlight is a dedicated section that showcases academic papers and scholarly articles focused on academic achievement and advancement at HBCUs.

This section aims to highlight and promote the research conducted within the HBCU community, shedding light on the unique contributions and achievements of HBCUs in the academic realm; such as student success, retention, graduation rates, innovative teaching practices, curriculum development, faculty scholarship, and research initiatives.

By spotlighting this research, the HBCU Center recognizes and celebrates the scholarly contributions of HBCU faculty, researchers, and students. It provides a platform for disseminating their findings, insights, and advancements within the academic community, further establishing HBCUs as significant contributors to the broader academic landscape. and beyond. 

The HU-HBCU Center Online Community is a members only online platform, which aims to foster meaningful engagement and collaboration within the HBCU ecosystem. This community forum provides a space for members to participate in discussion threads, access valuable resources, and stay updated on information relevant to the Center and its goals.

Within the online community, members can engage in discussions on various topics related to HBCUs, higher education, and the Center's initiatives. These discussion threads allow for the exchange of ideas, sharing of best practices, and networking among HBCU administrators, faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders. Members can actively participate by posting questions, contributing insights, and offering support and guidance to fellow community members.

The Policy Positions and Perspectives Symposia offer in-depth discussions on higher education policies, policy discourse, and policy proposals, with a specific focus on regional and national levels. The series brings together experts in the field who provide insights and analysis on policies that have implications for HBCUs and their communities.

The Policy, Positions and Perspectives Symposia serves as an opportunity for HBCU educators, practitioners, policymakers, and advocates to stay informed about policy developments, gain insights from experts, and engage in meaningful dialogue. The series contributes to building a community of stakeholders who are well-versed in higher education policy and can actively contribute to shaping policies that support the growth and success of HBCUs and their communities.

Center Us: The HBCU Center Book Club is a community-driven initiative that revolves around publications offering valuable insights and perspectives relevant to the HBCU Center community. The book club provides a platform for community members to engage in interactive dialogues, facilitated through the HU-HBCU Center Online community forum and other outlets like The HBCU Center podcast.

The book club selects publications that are of interest to the HBCU Center community, focusing on topics that have the potential to impact practice, policy, and the higher education landscape. These books may cover a wide range of subjects, including but not limited to HBCU history, education equity, social justice, leadership, and innovation in higher education.

The HBCU Student Success Collaborative's purpose is to develop HBCU-specific retention and degree completion strategies that are institution-affirming and asset-based; strategically leverage institutional resources to achieve optimal results and build HBCUs’ student success capacity; and promote HBCU collaboration.

The LDS Institute is comprised of programs aligned with the work of Lucy Diggs Slowe during her tenure as Dean of Women at Howard University from 1922-1937. A recognized higher education trailblazer, Slowe’s visionary initiatives and advocacy challenged dominant notions about the centrality of field of Student Affairs and Student Affairs professionals to the overall collegiate experience. LDS programs are designed to

1. Examine issues that impact Black student development at HBCUs and beyond.

2. Offer professional development programs that draw upon the expertise of Students Affairs professionals at HBCU and HBCU-ally institutions to identify and illuminate effective practices.

3. Sponsor, conduct, and disseminate research specific to the field of Student Affairs at HBCUs.

4. Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among higher education professionals and institutions.