HBCU presidents and administrators from 34 schools and
industry leaders met with congressmen and senior staff from both parties and in
both chambers. The meetings focused on advocacy for bipartisan priorities
impacting HBCUs and increased efforts to diversify their workforce.
During a panel hosted by Intel, Robinson shared his
perspective on the significant investments that public and private partners
should be prepared to make to impact HBCUs.
Intel is among corporate partners contributing more than
$500,000 to FAMU for scholarships and training students majoring in STEM
disciplines. Barbara Whye, vice
president of Human Resources and chief diversity and inclusion officer for
Intel Corporation was also on the panel.
“Florida A&M
University and our HBCU partners have been in the business of producing
outstanding graduates in STEM disciplines throughout our history,” said Robinson.
“The fact that HBCUs produce more than 40 percent of African-American engineers
while constituting only three percent of colleges and universities in this
nation is a remarkable achievement, in and of itself, but when you consider
that only about 10 percent of all HBCUs have engineering programs, our
productivity would suggest to anyone that these are the places to invest in and
partner with for those private sector and federal entities interested in
diversifying their workforce.”
Robinson summarized
several insights provided at the event. Including:
- The best way to establish productive
partnerships with the private sector is to recognize the wealth of
expertise that HBCUs bring to the table and use a bottoms-up approach to
frame the relationship, taking into consideration the special needs of
corporate partners and skill sets needed by our graduates to
succeed. HBCUs’ corporate partners should be prepared to make
substantial and sustained investments in the institutions to include
student support, internships, jobs, faculty, and infrastructure.
- After establishing partnerships we need
to see graduates not only employed in early career positions but also
ascend to all tiers in the organization at a pace comparable to other
employees.
- HBCUs and their partners need to
establish lasting change. Partners in educational and private sectors
should all show measures of improvement. We should all realize mutually
beneficial outcomes. And the partnerships should persist regardless of
leadership or other personnel changes on either side.