Historically Black colleges and universities play a vital role in producing future scientists and engineers, according to a recent report released by the National Science Foundation.
The report, entitled “Role of HBCUs as Baccalaureate-Origin Institutions of Black S&E Doctorate Recipients,” analyzes educational trends over the past two decades and compares private and public schools and HBCUs with non-HBCU institutions in conferring undergraduate degrees to future doctoral recipients in the science, engineering and health fields.
Among the findings, the percentage of science and engineering doctoral degree recipients who earned undergraduate degrees from HBCUs ranged between 24 and 33 percent from 1986 to 2006. Additionally, the top five baccalaureate-origin institutions of 1997-2006 Black science and engineering doctoral recipients were Howard University with 224 Ph.D. recipients, Spelman College with 150, Hampton University with 135, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University with 100, and Morehouse College with 99.
Officials say that HBCUs are consistently proving to be leaders in educating the scientists, researchers and engineers of tomorrow.
“HBCUs, as a group, produce among the highest numbers of S&E doctorate recipients,” says Dr. Joan Burrelli, a senior analyst for the NSF and co-author of the report. “They are important institutions in producing future doctorate recipients, and that is increasing.”
Rounding out the top 10 schools from which Black science and engineering doctoral recipients received bachelor’s degrees are North Carolina A&T State University, Southern University A&M College at Baton Rouge, Xavier University of Louisiana, Harvard University, and the University of Maryland, College Park.
Dr. Sylvia T. Bozeman, a professor of mathematics at Spelman College, says the institution’s dedication to instilling leadership qualities in its students contributes to the college’s success in grooming future doctoral degree recipients.
