Recognizing this disparity, the Biden Administration is stepping up efforts to help FAMU and other HBCUs achieve Research-1 (R-1) status, a designation that signifies high levels of research funding and doctoral graduate output. This status could enhance HBCUs' competitiveness for grants and funding, a goal that has been a priority for the institutions and their advocates.
Federal agencies, which fund more than half of university research, are leading the charge. The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are investing millions to create more opportunities for HBCUs to expand their research footprint in a field dominated by white scientists at wealthier universities.
The NSF's recent launch of the Ideas Lab initiative aims to strengthen HBCUs' competitive edge by fostering research networks. The $10 million grant, distributed among a dozen HBCUs, is part of the NSF's HBCU–Excellence in Research program, established by Congress in 2018 to address the NSF's history of underfunding HBCUs.
Adam Harris, a senior fellow at the New America think tank and author of "The State Must Provide: Why America's Colleges Have Always Been Unequal—and How to Set Them Right," emphasized the intentionality behind the underfunding and the need for equally intentional efforts to rectify it. He noted that federal science and engineering support for HBCUs increased by nearly 20 percent between 2021 and 2022, calling it a positive step but stressing the need for a larger, coordinated effort to address the legacy of discrimination.
As HBCUs like FAMU continue to push for recognition and support for their scientific contributions and innovations, the federal government's renewed commitment represents a crucial step toward leveling the playing field in higher education research.