WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Co-Chair of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, hosted the 8th Annual HBCU STEAM Days of Action in Washington, D.C. The two-day event brought together HBCU presidents, researchers, students, federal agency leaders, and Members of Congress to advance a shared agenda: securing the research infrastructure investments necessary for HBCUs to achieve R1 Carnegie Classification status and remain competitive in federal grant funding. The event was designed to address this challenge directly by building partnerships and congressional momentum to support legislation for long-term investment in HBCU infrastructure and research like the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act.

“The truth is, HBCU’s have always had the talent to meet the moment, but what we have not always had is the level of investment required to sustain it,” said Congresswoman Alma Adams. “For too long we have been asking HBCUs to do more with less, we’ve asked them to produce world class graduates with limited resources, and we’ve asked them to compete for research funding within systems that were not designed with them in mind.” 

HBCUs contribute nearly $16.5 billion to our annual economy and have long served as engines of opportunity for millions of Americans, many of them first-generation college students. They account for just 3% of colleges and universities nationwide but produce nearly 25% of Black STEM graduates and 33% of Black science and engineering PhDs. They also educate 42% of Black engineers and half of black educators nationwide.

Achieving R1 research status would unlock significant pathways for federal and private funding streams for these institutions, enabling them to further expand research output, attract top faculty, and create economic opportunities in the communities they serve.

Joining Congresswoman Alma Adams were Co-Chair of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus and Chair of the Financial Services Committee, Representative French Hill (AK-02), Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Representative Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Ranking Member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, Representative Bobby Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture, Representative Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Representative Sanford Bishop (GA-02), and Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Representative Troy Carter (LA-02), reflecting a strong bipartisan commitment to America’s more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their 300,000 students.

“I was pleased to join Congresswoman Alma Adams’ 8th Annual HBCU STEAM Days of Action and share a panel with Dr. Harry Williams, President of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, on the importance of building sustained, strategic partnerships critical to the success of our historically black colleges and universities,” Rep. French Hill said. “One-time contributions are not enough. Industry, philanthropy, and government must partner to build research capacity, strengthen financial stability, and develop the workforce pipelines that our HBCU students need. I look forward to continuing that work with my friend and fellow HBCU Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Adams.”

“We cannot continue to expect institutions to compete without providing the resources that competition requires… That is exactly why I have continued to push for more comprehensive approaches, including the Ignite HBCU Excellence Act,” said Congresswoman Adams, announcing the planned reintroduction of her comprehensive HBCU funding package. 

Over the course of March 25th and 26th, participants engaged in panels and presentations covering the full landscape of HBCU research development. Day One opened with a panel on understanding R1 research classification and why achieving that designation is critical for HBCU competitiveness, featuring university leaders including Chancellor Dr. James R. Martin II of North Carolina A&T State University, President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick of Howard University, and President Dr. Daniel K. Wims of Alabama A&M University. Additional sessions focused on faculty grant competitiveness, infrastructure investment, and public-private partnerships. 

Undersecretary of Education Nicholas Kent and representatives from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the Pentagon highlighted federal funding opportunities and the government’s role as a critical partner in building HBCU research capacity.

Day Two centered on translating research into real-world impact, with panels on technology transfer and commercialization at HBCUs and a forward-looking conversation on PhD pathways featuring the next generation of HBCU researchers.

“At the end of the day… it’s about ensuring that our students have access to the same opportunities to innovate, to discover, and to contribute,” concluded Congresswoman Adams. “When we invest in HBCUs, we are investing in the future of this country.” 

^{Source, photos, and press release – Office of Congresswoman Alma S. Adams}

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