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From page 1... ... Yet, while DoD and other federal agencies recognize that a racially and ethnically diverse workforce and research base is in the national interest, little progress has been made in turning intentions into measurable results. One way to accomplish this goal, as recommended in previous studies conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and many other organizations, is to make intentional and strategic investments in the nation's more than 400 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Read the entire page →
From page 2... ... . historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions . Read the entire page →
From page 3... ... Specifically, the National Academies was asked to identify the following: • The degree to which covered institutions are successful in competing for and executing DoD grants and contracts for defense research • Best practices for advancing the capacity of covered institutions to com pete for and conduct research programs related to national security and defense • Recommendations for strengthening and enhancing the programs ex ecuted under Section 2362 of Title 10, United States Code4 • The effectiveness of DoD in attracting and retaining students special izing in STEM fields from HBCU/MIs for the department's programs on emerging capabilities and technologies The Board on Higher Education and Workforce convened the Committee on Defense Research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Institutions, tapping into university, nonprofit, and industry members with expertise in DoD grant and contract processes; research capacity at institutions of higher education, including HBCUs and MIs; and related areas. The committee gathered information through public workshops, commissioned papers, a literature review, and information requests from DoD and representatives of institutions of higher education. Read the entire page →
From page 4... ... Therefore, the committee developed its own framework to guide its approach. For the purpose of this report, the committee determined that capacity to conduct DoD-related research consists of three mutually enforcing areas: • A strong institutional research grant and contract base, including appro priate physical research facilities and skilled research support to enable competitiveness • Research faculty support, including an articulated vision and support for a research climate and culture by institutional leadership, faculty teaching workloads that allow time for research pursuits, and department/college based research staff and administrative support • Ancillary services, including effective human resources processes, legal/ contracting assistance, and robust government relations teams The committee deemed these three areas necessary for an institution of higher education to most effectively compete for DoD research funding, successfully carry out the funded work, and position itself to build on that success to compete for additional awards in the future.7 Another challenging task was to fully comprehend and describe the researchrelevant variations within HBCU/MIs. Read the entire page →
From page 5... ... It is worth noting that students of color who attend non-HBCU/MIs also play an important role in increasing the number of underrepresented minority individuals in defense-related research and the STEM workforce. As DoD seeks to improve the diversity of the science and engineering workforce that will address defense technology challenges, it is important to consider the methods and means to support these students as well. Read the entire page →
From page 6... ... Instead, the committee identified promising practices for expanding research capacities at HBCU/MIs interested in pursuing defense research in four areas: establishing critical infrastructure, increasing proactive communications and relationship-building, forming true partnerships with institutions, and considering other agency programs and practices for DoD adoption/adaptation.10 Different stakeholder groups will have different roles to play in implementing these practices. As a starting point, we outline the following roles. Read the entire page →
From page 7... ... • Build relationships with HBCU/MI researchers, such as increasing opportunities for faculty to sit on program, peer-review, or advisory boards for research sponsors or through institution-government ex change programs, such as Intergovernmental Personnel Act-type arrangements • Review select programs and practices from other government agencies that may be suitable for adoption and/or adaptation • Other stakeholders (e.g., university-affiliated research centers, DoD industry partners) • Establish and evaluate true partnership opportunities with HBCU/MIs that are mutually beneficial • Co-develop proposals and co-report research outcomes so that HBCU/ MIs play an active, appropriately resourced role • Create and sustain long-term relationships with HBCU/MIs that tran scend discrete research projects RECOMMENDATIONS The committee recommends a number of actions that can be taken by DoD and entities partnering with HBCU/MIs to advance defense research capacity. Read the entire page →
From page 8... ... with responsibilities to establish or increase DoD relevant research capacity at HBCU/MIs should provide long-term insti tutional support in one or more of the following areas: • Physical research infrastructure (e.g., equipment, facilities) ; • Institutional research support and personnel (e.g., sponsored program offices, tech transfer offices, administrative and technical support) Read the entire page →
From page 9... ... that support non-research project defense capabilities. Should these potential, alternative funding sources become available, the funds should be carefully tracked by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and by the recipient HBCU/MI for use in research capacity-building efforts. Read the entire page →
From page 10... ... Improving Data Collection and Evaluation The committee requested data from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the military departments related to level of investment and measurable impact on the advancement of HBCU/MI research capacity. The data were insufficient to meet the committee's needs. Read the entire page →
From page 11... ... RECOMMENDATION 3B: Proposal Data Collection and Evaluation To increase the coordination of data collection, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering -- in collaboration with the military departments, defense agencies, and the director of the Defense Technical Information Centers -- should develop guidelines for data col lection on defense research and institutional capacity at HBCU/MIs. A directive should be issued by the Under Secretary of Defense for Re search and Engineering to ensure the coordination of data collection and codify the guidance. Read the entire page →
From page 12... ... Congressional reports, legislative language, and federal agency research solicitations have encouraged partnerships between HBCU/MIs and other universities, government entities, and industry, yet the committee found no examples in which partnerships were incentivized or directed by DoD. Incentivized true partnerships would allow other universities and industry to access the STEM research talent and capabilities at HBCU/MIs, while enhancing the defense research capacity and capabilities of these institutions. Read the entire page →
From page 13... ... and Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) programs, which may serve as models to expand research capacity in areas with potential for increased DoD research participa tion, as is the case for many Tribal Colleges and Universities. Read the entire page →
From page 14... ... RECOMMENDATION 7: By FY 2024, the Under Secretary of De fense for Research and Engineering, with the military departments and defense agencies, should review the programs and practices of other government agencies (e.g., National Science Foundation, National In stitutes of Health) relevant to increasing research capacity at HBCU/ MIs. Read the entire page →
From page 15... ... DoD has an opportunity to increase funding, strengthen capacity, and incentivize partnerships at HBCU/MIs. The recommendations above are offered to guide DoD, Congress, HBCU/MIs, and partnering entities in supporting and strengthening the role of these institutions in defense research. Read the entire page →
From page 17... ... include American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, multi-racial, and other/unknown. Read the entire page →
From page 18... ... The more than 400 public and private HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and other two- and four-year MIs are positioned to make strong and uniquely important contributions to the defense research enterprise, offering DoD an opportunity to widen its talent pool and diversify STEM research and ultimately strengthen its ability to support national security (Box 1-1) .3 In June 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order No. Read the entire page →
From page 19... ... Many underrepresented minority students are educated and graduate from STEM disciplines from non-HBCU/MIs (many with established defense research programs) , and direct recruitment from abroad can also add to the STEM workforce (although citizen requirements can reduce this source in numbers and/or in time lost) Read the entire page →
From page 20... ... (See Box 1-2 for an abbreviated statement of task and Appendix A for the full statement of task.) The Board on Higher Education and Workforce therefore convened the Committee on Defense Research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Institutions, selecting members from academia, nonprofit organizations, and industry with expertise in DoD contract and grant processes; research capacity at institutions of higher learning, including HBCUs and MIs; and related areas. Read the entire page →

From page 1...

... Yet, while DoD and other federal agencies recognize that a racially and ethnically diverse workforce and research base is in the national interest, little progress has been made in turning intentions into measurable results. One way to accomplish this goal, as recommended in previous studies conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and many other organizations, is to make intentional and strategic investments in the nation's more than 400 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)