How do HBCUs Define and Implement Capacity-Building Approaches?

• In Event: Division J Vice Presidential Session: A Critical Approach to Capacity Building: Lessons Learned From HBCU Administrators

Abstract

Capacity building is becoming a prominent topic in postsecondary education, with many philanthropic organizations now requiring proactive capacity-building plans as part of funding proposals. Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) face unique challenges due to historic underfunding and systemic inequities (Sanders & Nagle, 2019). While existing literature on capacity building mainly focuses on business and health professions (Burdick et al., 2007; Shams, 2016; Simmons et al., 2011), more research is needed in the postsecondary context, and even fewer studies center on HBCUs.
Given the importance of external funding for HBCUs, it is crucial to understand how these institutions define and implement capacity building to support Black students. This study addresses this knowledge gap by examining how five HBCUs define and apply a capacity-building framework while working on a grant from the Lumina Foundation. The goal of this study is to enhance the existing capacity-building framework with a more inclusive and culturally relevant perspective tailored to HBCUs.
To guide this study, the following research questions will be explored:
· How do HBCUs define and implement capacity-building approaches?
· In what ways do HBCUs' definition of capacity-building and its implementation align with current scholarship?
· What aspects of HBCUs' definition of capacity-building need to be included in current capacity-building frameworks?

This study will gather insights from staff and administrators at five HBCUs in North Carolina. Participants took part in semi-structured focus groups, where they were asked about capacity building, its definition, and how their respective institutions implement it in their grants. The responses were transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically. The findings in this study will be used to create a more culturally inclusive framework. It will also serve as a guide for other HBCUs to implement capacity-building initiatives successfully.

Authors

• Alexus SA Laster, Howard University

• Yanesia Norris, Schaefer Center for Public Policy

• Keeley Copridge, Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute

• Nadrea Njoku, Escend