The five-year initiative will modernize campus technology, expand advanced computing, and strengthen student success, building on the University’s 170-year legacy of educational opportunity.
Wilberforce University has secured a $3 million, five-year federal grant through the Title III Strengthening Institutions Program to implement its Technology and Rural Digital Equity Project. The investment will expand access to advanced technology, enhance teaching and learning, and strengthen the University’s ability to support students from enrollment through graduation.
The award represents the University’s largest single-source federal grant outside its regular Title III funding since receiving $2.06 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in 2023. The first year of the project, October 2026 through September 2027, includes an initial award of $824,200, with additional annual funding anticipated over the remaining four years.
Founded in 1856, Wilberforce University is the nation’s oldest private historically Black university and the first institution of higher education to be owned and operated by African Americans. For 170 years, Wilberforce has expanded educational opportunities and prepared generations of leaders. This award advances that historic mission by addressing a defining barrier to opportunity today: access to the technology, digital skills and academic support needed to succeed in an increasingly connected world.
“Since 1856, Wilberforce University has opened doors to opportunity, and this award allows us to carry that mission forward in powerful new ways,” said Dr. Vann R. Newkirk, Sr., President of Wilberforce University. “For our students, it means greater access to the tools and experiences that prepare them for meaningful careers. For our faculty and staff, it means stronger resources to teach, serve, and help students succeed. For the surrounding community, it strengthens Wilberforce’s capacity to prepare skilled graduates and support a more digitally connected rural region. This is an investment in our people and in the future we are building together.”
The project includes more than $1.3 million in technology and infrastructure improvements. Eight classrooms will be modernized with interactive digital displays, 4K auto-tracking cameras, high-performance computers, and integrated hybrid-learning systems.
A $550,000 investment will transform portions of the Rembert E. Stokes Library into a Collaboratory Hub and Data Literacy Sandbox featuring GPU-powered computing clusters, collaborative workstations, and advanced networking infrastructure. These resources will support hands-on learning, data analysis, and collaborative academic work. Additional improvements will bring high-density Wi-Fi and technology-equipped collaborative study spaces to the Student Union.
The initiative will also introduce three undergraduate data literacy courses within a stackable micro-credential framework and provide technology integration training for 40 faculty members. Approximately $667,000 will support adaptive learning platforms, advanced data processing applications and predictive analytics systems designed to identify students who may need additional academic support and facilitate timely intervention.
Together, these investments will connect upgraded facilities with instruction and student support, helping ensure that access to technology translates into meaningful opportunities for learning and achievement.
“This initiative moves Wilberforce beyond conventional classroom technology toward an integrated digital learning environment,” said Dr. Kenneth E. Jones, Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff and Principal Investigator. “By combining advanced computing, data literacy and predictive student success technologies, we are expanding educational opportunities while equipping our students with competencies increasingly essential across academic disciplines and professional fields.”
Wilberforce University extends special thanks to Dr. Patricia Matthews-Juarez and Dr. Paul D. Juarez for their expertise and assistance in helping secure this award.
The five-year initiative will run through September 30, 2031, advancing the University’s strategic priorities in technological innovation, educational equity, student success, and long-term institutional sustainability.
For more information on this initiative, email kejones@wilberforce.edu. To learn more about Wilberforce University visit Wilberforce.edu.
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Lena Arnold
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