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Pentagon announces Howard University as the first HBCU to lead university-affiliated research center

Pentagon announces Howard University as the first HBCU to lead university-affiliated research center

The Pentagon has chosen Howard University to lead a university-affiliated research center, its first partnership with a historically Black college or university, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced this week.

“To sharpen America’s technological edge and to strengthen America’s outstanding military, the department is committed to investing even more in HBCUs and minority-serving institutions,” Austin, the first Black secretary of defense, said Monday.

Howard will receive $12 million per year for five years in funding, according to a news release. This is the first university partnership primarily sponsored by the Air Force, and this is the first time the department accepted submissions from universities to become an affiliated research center, according to Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick.

The new consortium will focus on tactical autonomy, an Air Force program that aims to develop technologies that require minimal human supervision, according to the branch’s website. The center looks to take advantage of Howard’s science, technology, engineering and math programs.

Austin described the technology as “central to US security in our changing world” and said the military needs the creativity and ideas of students in these programs to continue advancing the advantages American soldiers have on the battlefield.

“Responsibly used autonomous systems make our military faster, smarter, and stronger,” he added. “Howard’s new research center will protect our most precious asset—and that most precious asset is our men and women in uniform.”

The university will also focus on diversifying the pool of scientists and engineers that work with the Defense Department, according to the news release, and it will lead eight other HBCUs, including Hampton and Tuskegee universities, in the research effort.

Frederick told that this is “an enormous opportunity” for faculty and students to “work on cutting edge research in a technology space that is ever evolving.”

“It’s going to put us in a unique space to develop techniques and capabilities and skillsets that we otherwise wouldn’t,” Frederick said, adding that this partnership will allow the university to expand to other areas of research in the future.

The program “really emphasizes that for the country to be successful and for the country to compete, to continue to be competitive in terms of research, etc., that you have to diversify what that work force looks like in the arena of research,” Frederick said.

The Pentagon currently has partnerships with 14 other universities across the country, including Georgia Institute of Technology, University of South California and the University of Maryland.

From Focus Quest we believe that this announcement of Howard University as the first HBCU to lead a research center affiliated with the university is a significant development that has numerous advantages. This decision will create more opportunities for African American students and researchers to excel in fields that have traditionally been dominated by white scholars. Additionally, it will provide the Pentagon with a more diverse pool of talent and ideas, leading to better solutions and innovations. The research center will also serve as a model for other institutions to follow, promoting the importance of diversity and inclusion in academic and research settings. Overall, this news represents a major step forward in promoting equity and excellence in research and education.

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What’s The Science? An Examination Of What HBCUs Are Doing With The Bezos Millions

What’s The Science? An Examination Of What HBCUs Are Doing With The Bezos Millions

MacKenzie Scott was married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos for 25 years before their divorce in 2019. In April of that year, Bezos and Scott reached a settlement in their divorce that gave her a four percent stake in Amazon, valued at $38.3 billion at the time. 

 

She vowed to give billions away–and has. In July and December 2020, Scott announced $5.8 billion in gifts to colleges and various nonprofit and charitable organizations, The Washington Post reported. Of that, $800 million went to institutions of higher education, with Historically Black Colleges and Universities getting substantial amounts. The charitable donations to HBCUs by Scott, who still had a net worth of $27 billion as of December 2022, were doled out in two parts.

So where did the money go? What are the HBCUs doing with the Bezos millions?

In July, MacKenzie Scott Gave $150 million to HBCUs to six schools: Xavier University, Tuskegee University, Hampton University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Howard University. Then she donated more to a slew of HBCUs in December.

As we can see, Jeff Bezos’s $100 million gift to many universities in the United States has far-reaching benefits. The funds will help increase access to education for a greater number of students, improve campus infrastructure, and create new economic opportunities for communities. Additionally, the investment will support research and innovation, promoting scientific discoveries and solutions to global challenges. Most importantly, Bezos’s gift will promote social equity by ensuring that more students from underprivileged backgrounds have access to higher education. All in all, this generous contribution has the potential to transform the lives of countless students and communities for the better.

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It’s Time for a Break!

Dear Students,

As Student Success Coaches, we would like to take this opportunity to reach out and communicate with you directly. We understand that your academic journey can be challenging, but please know that we are here to support you every step of the way.

We want to remind you that your success is our top priority. We are here to provide you with guidance, resources, and support to help you achieve your academic goals. Whether you need assistance with time management, study skills, or navigating the university, we are here to help.

It is important to remember that you are not alone in this journey. For this reason we have created this entry to provide you with a direct message and to be able to contact us more directly. We hope you enjoy.

Student Success Coaches

It’s Time for a Break!

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Springtime! And with spring comes…Spring Break! (Wild applause!) So relax, breathe, have some fun. Take that break. You deserve it! After spring break, you may find it hard to get your head back into the game, and that is normal. But if you just take a moment to remember your goal and your purpose. Remember your “why”. Why are you in school? What is it that you want? Why do you want it? Can you see it? What does life look like once you have it? In other words, what does your success look like to YOU? If you keep those pictures in your head, it will be easier to step back into the academic routine with your head in the game! As usual, we are cheering you on every step of the way.
FocusQuest is focused on you. Our desire is that YOU are also focused on you!

Dr. Ndala Booker

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