UNCF × Harvard University

Digital learning platform for HBCUs and the communities they serve

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In 2023, the Institute for Capacity Building at UNCF (United Negro College Fund) launched a partnership with Harvard University’s Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning and Axim Collaborative to support the development of HBCUv, a platform that will provide digital learning capabilities tailored to the needs and aspirations of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the communities they serve. HBCUv is designed to replicate the supportive learning culture and community for which HBCUs are well known. The platform will be open to all HBCUs and enable institutions to share knowledge, resources, and best practices.

The project focuses on the platform’s course development and course management capabilities, which provide resources, training, and guidance to help faculty effectively shape learning experiences. It will allow each organization to contribute unique expertise, learn from each other and involve other partners, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

24%

In 2014 HBCUs accounted for 24% of STEM degrees earned by African Americans.

In particular, the project will:

Develop the Culturally Relevant Course Repository (CRCR), which will provide a collection of educational materials, resources, and information that faculty can easily incorporate into courses. UNCF and Harvard will work with MIT to leverage existing learning assets that can be adapted for a foundational set of educational resources.
Build an instructional design framework tailored to the needs of HBCUs faculty and students. This framework, HBCU Authentic, will leverage existing best practices and provide a critical resource to support faculty developing courses on the platform.
Invest in pedagogical development by supporting a robust learning community that offers HBCU educators the opportunity to collaborate, share best practices, and explore ways to leverage the platform to support their teaching.

While HBCUs represent ~3% of the higher education institutions in the U.S., they accounted for 15% of bachelor’s degrees and 19% of STEM degrees earned by African Americans. UNCF ICB partners with Black colleges and universities to explore ways to leverage technology and online learning in support of continued and increased student success. HBCUs are uniquely aligned with the goals and mission of Axim, generating impressive results with historically limited resources.