The importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to engineering education in the U.S. and globally with Dr. Trina Fletcher

Summary

Dr. Trina Fletcher shares with us the origins and continued relevance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) on STEM more broadly and engineering, specifically. Dr. Fletcher shares her journey in engineering education, from her path through UAPB’s STEM academy to her graduate experiences where she found a purpose-focused, people-centric approach to graduate engineering. The conversation delves into the history and purpose of HBCUs, the current landscape for minority-serving institutions, and the impact of funding and policy decisions on HBCUs. We discuss ABET accreditation, program models like 2+3 pathways, and the opportunities and challenges facing HBCU engineering programs today. Dr. Fletcher offers perspectives on the future of engineering education at HBCUs, potential pathways for collaboration, and the scholars and initiatives to watch.

Fletcher, T. L., Jefferson, J. P., Boyd, B., Park, S. E., & Crumpton‐Young, L. (2023). Impact of COVID‐19 on sense of belonging: Experiences of engineering students, faculty, and staff at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Journal of Engineering Education, 112(2), 488-520.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jee.20512

Name Drop

Dr. Monica F. Cox

Dr. Erin Lynch

Dr. Shaun Harper

Dr. MaryBeth Gasman 

Dr. Walter Kimbrough

Dr. Jelani M. Favors 

Dr. Ivory Toldson 

Dr. Robert T. Palmer

QEM - QEM Heros - https://qem.org/project/heroes-program/

Institutions to watch:

Morgan State University

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Report:

CMSI The MacKenzie Scott Donations to Historically Black Colleges and Universities:Exploring the Data Landscape

https://cmsi.gse.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/ScottHBCU_Report%20Final.pdf