The Shawn Carter Foundation, in partnership with Toyota Motor North America, has introduced a financial education program designed to support students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Called Champions for Financial Legacy (CFFL), the initiative aims to equip students and their surrounding communities with essential financial skills. Bridging Knowledge Gaps to Build Wealth CFFL, developed in collaboration with the Wharton School’s Coalition for Equity and Opportunity, is based on an existing curriculum by Dr. Keith Weigelt – the Marks-Darivoff Family Professor of Strategy at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
FanDuel, North America’s online gaming company, announced a $1 million donation to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to support students at 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across North Carolina. The funding is aimed at alleviating financial pressures for these students by covering essential needs, including technology, housing, food security, and tuition costs, through UNCF’s Emergency Student Aid program. Supporting Educational Access and Equity The donation ceremony took place on September 29 at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, where representatives from FanDuel and UNCF gathered to mark the
Black Girl Vitamins (BGV) has announced a $100,000 scholarship fund dedicated to Black women pursuing medical careers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This two-year initiative, part of their broader mission to support health equity, aims to increase representation in healthcare by easing the financial burden for aspiring medical professionals. Investing in Future Healthcare Leaders BGV’s scholarship program aligns with their mission to create a new generation of Black women in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and public health. The scholarship is open to Black women enrolled in accredited medical programs
Black male enrollment at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) has plummeted to a historic low, falling below the previous record set in 1976. Recent data reveals that this decline, marked by a 25% drop since 2010, underscores a growing crisis within the Black male academic pipeline and poses a threat to the future of these institutions. Sharp Decline in Black Male Enrollment While HBCUs overall have seen an 11% decrease in enrollment since 2010, the situation is far more severe for Black male students. This 25% drop in Black
The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced an investment to enhance diversity and inclusion within the artificial intelligence (AI) research community. The NSF has allocated $10 million in grants to seven innovative projects in collaboration with the Departments of Homeland Security, Agriculture, Defense, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. These initiatives aim to strengthen AI research and education at minority-serving institutions (MSIs), including historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). A Diverse AI Research Community The new round of ExpandAI awards is a strategic move to cultivate a
Kenyan President William Ruto made Atlanta his first stop during his official state visit to the United States, focusing on advancing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. During his visit to Spelman College, a historically Black college for women, Ruto signed a framework agreement to establish educational exchanges between Kenyan universities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the US. Boosting STEM Education The agreement, signed by representatives from Spelman and Morehouse Colleges, Clark Atlanta University, and Howard University, aims to enhance STEM education in both countries. “We
Actress, author, and entrepreneur Malinda Williams has launched the ESTEAM Project for women at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The coding bootcamp emerges from her Arise And Shine Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering women from diverse backgrounds. “As a professional actress and someone who has experienced first-hand the support of my community, I understand the value of collaboration and paying it forward,” said Williams in a press release. “The Arise and Shine Foundation exists to empower women to reach their goals, and coding is a powerful
Google has purchased Edlyft’s AI tutor – a generative AI co-pilot for college students studying computer science. Erika Hairston and Arnelle Ansong, two long-time friends, founded Edlyft in 2020 to support Black college students and adults enrolled in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses. Their digital platform connects learners to inclusive mentorship, online group tutoring, live and recorded sessions, and personalized study tools, enabling them to succeed in their classes and secure high-paying jobs. Over the past two years, Edlyft collaborated with Google through their Google Tech Exchange, teaching applied data structures to Historically
Echo360 has announced its annual grants program that now features new award opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Echo360 is the most comprehensive, global, SaaS-based video platform for creating, delivering, and measuring learning engagement outcomes in any learning environment. The 2024 Echo360 e3 Tech Grants Program The 2024 program will award 20 recipients cash or software grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 in two grant categories: EchoImpact Grants and EchoInnovation Grants. EchoImpact Grants support instructors and researchers using Echo360 solutions to improve learner outcomes empirically. Conversely, the EchoInnovation Grants
Nex Cubed has announced a partnership with nonprofit HBCU.vc to support founders from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and train the next generation of Black venture capitalists (VCs). Nex Cubed is a pre-seed venture accelerator on a mission to invest in and uplift underrepresented founders and underserved communities. They recently announced the launch of a $40 million HBCU Founders Fund aimed to boost startups led by at least one founder who is a HBCU student, alumnus, or faculty. This week, they announced the partnership with HBCU.vc – a nonprofit
