R&D Expenditures at HBCUs

Total and Federally Financed R&D Expenditures at HBCUs

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For researchers, getting a single grant or award of at least $1 million takes skill and dedication, not to mention commitment to the university, students and to scholarship, says JoVita Wells, associate director of the Office of Sponsored Research at Tennessee State University in Nashville.

Tennessee State earlier this year honored 14 individuals who had been granted a single award of $1 million or more by a federal agency during a special three-day event called the Annual University Wide Research Symposium, marking 25 years of "research engagement" (see Black Issues, April 10).

"That level of funding to so many researchers at TSU is so significant because of the history of research funding in America, and the role of faculty at HBCUs," Wells says, pointing out that historically Black colleges and universities were not created to be research institutions and therefore face special challenges. "Faculty workloads are heavy, and it's difficult to attract young faculty."

TSU has met this challenge head on by developing partnerships and collaborations with other colleges and universities, as well as government agencies and the private sector.

Collaborative efforts

TSU collaborations and partnership opportunities have increased over the years — particularly over the last 10 years.

"We were (already) engaged in innovative and excellence research," Wells says. "Our principal investigators were obtaining grants, publishing, making presentations and our institutional research profile had been enhanced."