In recognition of Fayetteville State University’s (FSU’s) leadership in providing master’s degree graduate education opportunities, the University received over $10.6 million in funding under the U.S. Department of Education’s Phase II funding initiative for Master's Degree Programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (MD-HBCU). 

The grant will empower FSU to strengthen and expand offerings of master's degree programs in key STEM fields -- like physical and natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, and computer science -- where African American and low-income students are underrepresented due to historic inequities. STEM fields offer a wide range of career opportunities, many of which are in high demand and provide competitive salaries. 

Funded through the Higher Education Act of 1965, the grant will span a six-year period through  September 30, 2029. Dr. Kimberly Smith-Burton, Professor of Mathematics Education, served as the Principal Investigator and Project Director for Phase I of the MD-HBCU program, and will continue to serve in this lead role during Phase II of the project. 

This federal funding for graduate level HBCU degree programs will “fortify, enrich, and expand access to graduate education across multiple colleges at FSU, including the College of Education (COE), Broadwell College of Business and Economics (BCBE), and Lloyd College of Health, Science, and Technology (CHST),” said Dr. Smith-Burton. “It's a significant step toward advancing education and opportunities for our students." 

The main goals of the MD-HBCU initiative are to increase enrollment, matriculation, and job prospects of HBCU students; increase research and professional development opportunities for faculty and students; and establish new degree programs or concentrations. The benefits of this investment will reach across the region and state, given that STEM industries are significant drivers of economic growth and contribute to the creation of new businesses and jobs.

Complementing FSU’s strategic plan for 2022-2027, the MD-HBCU funding will support FSU’s goals of advancing scholarship and fostering growth and innovation for African American and low-income graduate students interested in STEM disciplines. It will also support equipment acquisition, software licenses, research projects, facility improvements, student services, and more to prepare FSU students for the complex challenges facing society.