Harvard's Financial Commitment and Goals
Harvard announced a three-year, $1.05 million grant through the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative to support the Association of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Research Institutions. The funding directly implements Recommendation Three from the 2022 Report of the Presidential Committee on Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery, which called on the university to forge lasting connections with HBCUs. The grant will support research infrastructure and technical assistance to help member institutions build research capacity and pursue R1 research classification, the highest research designation for United States universities under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
AHRI Coalition Structure and Membership
The newly launched AHRI coalition comprises 15 HBCUs working to enhance their collective research, innovation, and impact. Thirteen member institutions are classified as R2, High Research Activity: Morgan State University, Clark Atlanta University, Delaware State University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Hampton University, Jackson State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University, South Carolina State University, Southern University, Tennessee State University, Texas Southern University, and Virginia State University, plus the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Howard University is the only partner institution with R1 designation and represents the first HBCU to achieve that status. Together, AHRI members account for 50 percent of all competitively awarded federal research funding among HBCUs.
Technical Support and Capacity Building
Harvard's Office of the Vice Provost for Research will provide technical support to AHRI member institutions. The Office for Sponsored Programs will also provide technical assistance and guidance in designing and strengthening research administration and compliance infrastructure across member institutions. This support includes participating in the inaugural AHRI symposium, hosting HBCU administrative staff at Harvard, and providing assistance with lifecycle grants administration and compliance. The coalition formally launched on April 29, 2026, with an inaugural symposium titled 'Expanding the Research Mission of HBCUs.'
AHRI's Mission and Objectives
AHRI aims to accelerate world-class research, expand institutional capacity, and elevate HBCU leadership in addressing society's most pressing challenges. The coalition will advance its mission by increasing research capacity, strengthening institutional infrastructure, expanding funding opportunities, enhancing faculty recruitment, and broadening student access to research and career pathways. A key objective is to increase the number of HBCUs achieving Research One Carnegie Classification. AHRI is supported by a strategic partnership with the Association of American Universities, where its offices are co-located.
Harvard's Broader HBCU Initiative Work
Beyond the new AHRI grant, the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative supports the next generation of HBCU leaders through the Seminar for New Presidents leadership program, which provides collaborative cohort learning for HBCU and non-HBCU presidents. The initiative also supports capacity building through the HBCU Digital Library Trust, which has engaged more than 90 HBCUs in digitizing high-priority collections and providing professional development programs. Additionally, the H&LS Initiative funds the Du Bois Scholars Program, a summer research internship at Harvard University for undergraduate students from 21 research-intensive HBCUs. 
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