Broadening HBCU Participation in Extramural Research

• In Event: The Role of HBCUs in Constructing Knowledge: Race, Relevance, and Research

Abstract

This paper presentation focuses on outcomes of the NSF HBCU-UP Broadening Participation Research Center: The Identity and Motivation Broadening Participation Research Center, which is a research collaboration among three HBCUs (Howard University, Winston-Salem State University, and Morehouse College).
Treatment will be given to the research conducted via and NSF grant and the lessons learned in the program evaluation regarding the research capacity and readiness of selected historically black colleges and universities.
As the principal investigator, the research project has examined the role of historically black colleges and universities in constructing knowledge in STEM generally and psychological sciences specifically. The study seeks to dismantle racial injustice by conducting research that amplifies the significance of African American students' sense of self (and culture) for academic motivation, emotion, cognition, learning and achievement in STEM. The investigator perspective is critical and necessary – research on HBCU researchers conducted by HBCU researchers. This vantage portended unique queries and contexts. In effect, the research questions employed emerged from different perspectives and cultural frameworks.
Early conclusions suggest the educational research community needs HBCU research and researchers. In parallel, HBCUs and HBCU researchers merit racial equity (fiscal, human, technology resources, infrastructure, capital, capital transfer). It is implausible to require the highest quality of educational research be produced in an internal environment burdened by infrastructure problems and external environment fraught with historical and systemic racism.

The data confirm that historically black colleges possess the capacity to create new knowledge on the psychological science of broadening participation but have numerous obstacles and competing needs to advance research infrastructure to do this work. In fact, many HBCU researchers are suffering; and to escape HBCUs lose researchers because of problems with research infrastructure and the flagrant professional disrespect on and off campus.
The paper will chronicle the struggles, challenges, disparities of HBCU researcher in the study as they pursue mission-driven work. There is also coverage of the differences between public and private HBCUs along with research university versus undergraduate and master’s institutional differences. HBCU research is produced in crippled institutions by crippled researchers in a crippled society.

Author

• Kimberley Edelin Freeman, Howard University