WASHINGTON — A strategic commitment and targeted long-term investments are needed from the U.S. Department of Defense to increase the capacity of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other minority institutions (MIs) to compete for and conduct defense research, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

HBCU/MIs receive a disproportionately smaller share of DOD R&D-related funding compared to non-HBCU/MIs, the report says. Its analysis of data from fiscal years 2010 to 2020 indicates that there has not been a significant expansion in the funding for research projects or research capacity awarded to the vast majority of HBCU/MIs, despite legislation and departmental efforts with this stated intent.

These disparities point to a clear disconnect between the expressed direction by the Congress and DOD — to expand the defense research capacity at HBCU/MIs and increase their participation in such research — and what has actually occurred over the last decade, said the committee that wrote the report.

“As one of the largest federal STEM funding agencies and employers, DOD plays an essential role in the U.S. science and technology ecosystem and can greatly expand opportunities to diversify the STEM workforce,” said committee chair Eugene DeLoatch, emeritus professor and inaugural dean of the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering at Morgan State University. “It is time to move from well-intentioned statements to actionable outcomes.”

To address the gaps, a strategic commitment and long-term targeted investments are needed, well above fiscal year 2020 levels, the report says. DOD entities with responsibilities to establish or increase relevant research capacity at HBCU/MIs should provide long-term institutional support in areas such as physical research infrastructure, institutional research support and personnel, programmatic support to research faculty and students, and the transition or commercialization of research products.

The Department of Defense should seek to be an exemplar in advancing the research capacity of HBCU/MIs to sufficiently address the national security and defense needs of the nation, the report says. For example, in the short term it should request at least a doubling of the fiscal year 2020 targeted funding and dedicate it to capacity building in DOD-interest areas. In the longer term, DOD should strive to meet or exceed the funding levels of other mission-focused agencies that are also continuing to improve their engagements with HBCU/MIs.

In addition, there is insufficient data collection and inter-departmental program coordination, and a lack of quantitative evaluations to appropriately assess critical areas related to the impact of DOD investments on the advancement of HBCU/MI research capacity, the report says. It offers recommendations to address these deficiencies in data collection, including those related to proposal data and research capacity.

The report also stresses the importance of partnerships among HBCU/MIs, other universities, government, and industry in strengthening the defense research capacity of HBCU/MIs. While congressional reports, legislative language, and federal agency research solicitations have encouraged such partnerships, no examples were found where partnerships were incentivized or directed by DOD. Incentivized true partnerships — meaning partnerships that are mutually beneficial and grounded in mutual respect, meaningful engagement, and equity in funding and resources — would allow other universities and industry to access the STEM research capabilities and talent at HBCU/MIs, while enhancing the defense research capacity of these institutions.

Promising practices for building research capacity
The report identifies a range of promising practices for advancing the capacity of HBCUs/MIs to conduct defense research. For example, HBCU/MI leaders can define research goals that are aligned with both institutional and DOD priorities. They also can seek out true partnerships with non-HBCU/MIs, government and quasi-government entities, industry, and other HBCU/MIs.

DOD leadership can increase the consistent, coordinated engagement of HBCU/MIs in defense research, including regular outreach and early engagement in the structure, requirements, and focus of funding opportunities. The department can also expand opportunities for support in grants and contracts proposal development, administration, and management. In addition, DOD leaders can 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 exchange programs.

Other stakeholders, such as DOD industry partners, can establish and evaluate true partnership opportunities with HBCU/MIs that are mutually beneficial, and co-develop proposals and co-report research outcomes so that HBCUs/MIs play an active, appropriately resourced role.

“With their focus on intentionally supporting student success, HBCUs and other MIs 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,” said committee vice chair Aliecia McClain, associate professor and chair of the department of chemistry at Norfolk State University.

The study — undertaken by the Committee on Defense Research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Institutions — was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, technology, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.

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