Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have long served as engines of academic excellence, leadership and workforce development, and economic opportunity. They have helped cultivate generations of leaders, innovators, researchers, educators, and public servants whose contributions have improved health, wellbeing and prosperity across the Nation.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) is committed to expanding opportunities for HBCUs to participate in HHS programs and initiatives by:
- Facilitating partnerships between HBCUs and HHS
- Increasing institutional capacity to compete effectively for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements
- Promoting the sharing and dissemination of administrative and programmatic best practices and success stories across the HBCU community
In support of Executive Order 14283, which established the White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, HHS OMH is building and growing our partnerships with HBCUs to improve access to federal resources and opportunities. This page will be updated regularly with new events, funding and grant opportunities, and other resources that support HBCUs.
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HHS Annual HBCU Plan
In accordance with the HBCU PARTNERS Act, HHS OMH is responsible for developing and submitting the annual “HBCU HHS Agency Plan to Increase Support and Opportunities for HBCUs” on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This plan outlines HHS-wide efforts to increase engagement with HBCUs and strengthen their capacity to address HHS goals and priorities.
FY 2026 HHS Annual Plan to Increase Support and Opportunities for HBCUs
Read the FY 2026 HHS HBCU Plan to learn about the agency-wide efforts to promote excellence and innovation at HBCUs.
HBCU Listening Session and Private Partnerships and Funding Readiness Guide
2026 HBCU Listening Session
As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen engagement with HBCUs, HHS OMH hosted a listening session on August 26, 2026, with representatives from 45 HBCUs to share the goals of the White House Initiative on HBCUs and obtain ideas on how to advance the mission of Executive Order 14283. The discussion provided an opportunity to hear directly from HBCU representatives about strategies and best practices for developing private-sector partnerships that advance health-related initiatives, as well as challenges and promising approaches that enhance HBCUs capacity to successfully compete for HHS funding opportunities.
2026 HBCU Listening Session
View and download the slide deck.
HBCU Private Partnerships and Funding Readiness Guide
Building on insights and best practices from our August 2026 listening session with HBCUs, HHS OMH developed the HBCU Private Partnership and Funding Readiness Guide. This guide contains an HBCU Health Partnership and Funding Readiness Roadmap, which brings the key practices identified during the session into a single practical framework that can be adapted to each institution’s mission, priorities, and operating environment to position HBCUs to pursue private partnerships in addition to HHS grants and contracts.
HBCU Private Partnerships and Funding Readiness Guide: Insights and Best Practices from the August 2026 HBCU Listening Session
View and download the full Guide and roadmap.
Related News
- U.S. Department of Education: White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
- U.S. Department of Education: FY 2026 HBCU Agency Plans
- Executive Order 14283: White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
- Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Promotes Excellence and Innovation at HBCUs
- Press Release: HHS Creates Fellowship and Career Fairs for Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Resources
- National Institutes of Health: HBCU Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Historically Black Colleges and Universities Center for Excellence in Behavioral Health (HBCU-CFE)