The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is proud to announce its new partnership with the HBCU Transformation Project, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to accelerating the growth, development and sustainability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the nation.

The HBCU Transformation Project is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and Partnership for Education Advancement (Ed Advancement) that aims to increase HBCU resources and sustainability; improve student outcomes in retention and graduation rates; and expand enrollment and increase capacity-building with faculty and staff. It offers flexible support that focuses resources to the highest priorities at each institution. Additionally, UDC is one of TMCF’s member-schools, which includes 54 publicly-supported HBCUs and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs).

“We are thrilled to have the University of the District of Columbia join our efforts to drive positive change across the HBCU landscape,” said Ed Advancement CEO and Co-Founder James Runcie. “Given our successful collaboration with Dr. Edington in his previous role at FAMU, continuing this work with him at UDC was a clear next step. The university’s rich history, academic excellence, and commitment to student success make it an invaluable partner in our mission to elevate HBCUs nationwide.”

The project is structured around six sub-initiatives that work in service of supporting all HBCUs with:

1. Institutional improvement and innovation
2. Institutional and intermediary capacity-building to lead and sustain ongoing improvements
3. Pursuing increased funding to rectify historic inequities
4. Developing private capital campaigns for endowments and sustainable reserves
5. Expanding community and regional economic development partnerships
6. Reorienting the narratives surrounding HBCUs toward their outsized impact on social and economic mobility outcomes

“Among the overarching goals of UDC’s new strategic plan is to embrace mission-aligned, sustainable and impactful partnerships, and our collaboration with HBCU Transformation Project dovetails precisely with that goal,” said UDC President Maurice D. Edington, Ph.D. “We look forward to leveraging the resources and expertise offered by this initiative to further enhance our academic programs, empower students and transform lives.”