North Carolina Central University Launches First HBCU AI Research Institute

New AI Institute at NCCU

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) established the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research (IAIER) in January 2025. This institute is the first of its kind at a historically Black college or university (HBCU), aiming to equip students and faculty with skills for a labor market increasingly influenced by AI.

Addressing AI Literacy Needs

Siobahn Day Grady, an associate professor at NCCU, leads the effort to expand AI literacy beyond traditional computer science departments. The university is developing a computer science program and an AI minor to support this broader educational approach, recognizing that digital and AI skills are becoming essential across all fields.

Challenges for HBCUs

HBCUs face challenges in securing funding for advanced research, receiving less than 1% of federal research and development funding despite comprising approximately 3% of four-year institutions. This disparity highlights the difficulties in building cutting-edge AI curricula and accessing industry networks.

A 2025 report by the Center for American Progress and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund indicated that 17 of 43 federal agencies awarded no research funding to HBCUs in 2023.

Impact and Funding

Despite these challenges, IAIER has made progress since its launch. It secured a US $1 million grant from Google.org and has engaged more than 2,800 students, faculty members, and community residents through research initiatives and training programs. The institute focuses on interdisciplinary AI education, operating under the principle that "AI is for everyone."