WASHINGTON – Opportunity zones and STEM opportunities were among key topics discussed Thursday at a meeting of the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs hosted by the U.S. Department of Education and the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
HBCU leaders and other board members heard higher education policy updates from the education department and other federal agencies and how HBCUs could benefit from changes and new initiatives. Much of the conversation revolved around opportunities to make the schools more competitive.
In discussions about how best to improve the visibility, identity, distinctive capabilities and general competitiveness of HBCUs, attendees expressed the most interest in accreditation, infrastructure and deferred maintenance, leadership, excellence in people resources, money, STEM and opportunity zones.
The board will begin prioritizing the areas and move forward with a sense of urgency, said chair Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.
Dr. Diann McCants from the Department of Defense and Dr. Matthew Wilson of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy described current and forthcoming STEM opportunities for strategic planning and competitive research funding from agencies across the federal government.
“There is no better time to be involved in science and technology in the United States,” said Wilson, noting that billions of dollars are available to colleges and universities through federal programs for basic research.
But it was the opportunity zones through the recently established White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (ORC) that seemed to most capture attendees’ interest. The zones, written as a tax incentive in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, allow entities and individuals to seek revitalization funds for initiatives that are sustainable and have a social impact in distressed communities.
