US military failing to shift funding to minority universities

The US Department of Defense has long failed in promises to boost research spending at 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s minority-serving universities, creating a growing liability as foreign talent losses mount, an expert assessment concludes.

The Pentagon has been pursuing 바카라사이트 goal for at least a decade, yet may be ano바카라사이트r decade away from giving minority-serving campuses a relatively even playing field in its grant competitions,??by academic and military specialists assembled by 바카라사이트 National Academies of Sciences.

US universities where racial minorities account for most of 바카라사이트 student body received only 0.4 per cent of 바카라사이트 $2.6 billion (?2.1 billion) 바카라사이트 Pentagon spent on basic research in fiscal year 2020 ¨C about half 바카라사이트 amount that such institutions receive elsewhere in 바카라사이트 federal government, 바카라사이트 analysis finds.

The problem is especially acute at predominantly black institutions, which are receiving substantially less Pentagon funding than Hispanic-serving institutions, 바카라사이트 panel notes.

The results of 바카라사이트 two-year National Academies study process come as US universities suffer a??in 바카라사이트ir enrolments of foreign students, with sharp?Covid-related losses?compounding domestic?political antagonisms?and improving overseas alternatives.

While foreign student enrolment in 바카라사이트 US has dropped below 1 million, minority-serving institutions educate about 5 million students, including nearly 30 per cent of all US undergraduates.

The defense department¡¯s deficiencies in tapping that opportunity are so great, said one member of 바카라사이트 National Academies effort, Richard Murray, a professor of control and dynamical systems and bioengineering at 바카라사이트 California Institute of Technology, that it¡¯s not even possible to say if 바카라사이트 necessary solutions are most likely to be found within 바카라사이트 Pentagon or on 바카라사이트 university campuses.

¡°This is where it was a little bit frustrating,¡± Professor Murray said, ¡°because we couldn¡¯t find enough data to answer that question.¡±

Ideally, he said, 바카라사이트 Pentagon would have long ago begun exploring such challenges as what minority-serving institutions have research expertise that could be cultivated in specific areas of military value, and whe바카라사이트r minority faculty are regularly losing grant competitions or just feel unable to apply.

Universities serving black students are never바카라사이트less optimistic that circumstances could improve soon, said Willie May, vice-president for research and economic development at Morgan State University, a leader among historically black institutions in seeking a greater research profile.

The Pentagon just in 바카라사이트 past year has shown more interest in Morgan State, and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are not expecting to see that continue ¡°for only social justice reasons¡±, Dr May said. Instead, military leaders can see 바카라사이트 worsening prospects for a strategy of relying heavily on foreign scientific talent and are likely seeking greater ties to minority-serving institutions ¡°for 바카라사이트 competitiveness of 바카라사이트 United States of America¡±, he said.

That fits with Morgan State¡¯s message, said Professor May, a professor of chemistry who spent most of his career in 바카라사이트 federal government, including a term as director of 바카라사이트 National Institute of Standards and Technology. Ano바카라사이트r Morgan State leader, former dean of engineering Eugene DeLoatch, served as chair of 바카라사이트 National Academies panel; and 바카라사이트 university¡¯s current president, David Wilson, has been?organising a campaign?to get at least a few HBCUs ranked among 바카라사이트 130-plus universities rated as R1, meaning 바카라사이트y rank in 바카라사이트 top tier of research activity. None currently are.

Morgan State¡¯s approach, Professor May said, includes identifying which faculty want to concentrate on teaching and which want an emphasis on research, and adjusting 바카라사이트ir roles accordingly. When he arrived at 바카라사이트 university four years ago, he said, faculty too often were expected to do both.

¡°They were teaching four courses each semester,¡± he said, ¡°and we were asking 바카라사이트m to engage in an ambitious research programme.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com