Morgan State University’s Division of Research and Economic Development announced a remarkable achievement. The university has secured a record-high of $88.5 million in new federal funding commitments for research and training. This marks a 6% increase from the previous year and $50 million in research expenditures for Fiscal Year 2024. This milestone represents the fourth consecutive year that Morgan has recorded increases in sponsored research commitments, excluding private gifts.
David K. Wilson, president of MSU, expressed his enthusiasm regarding these achievements. “Since first boldly declaring our commitment to becoming the only doctoral HBCU with a current R1 classification, Morgan has been on an unwavering positive trajectory toward that goal,” Wilson stated. He emphasized the importance of leveraging these emerging research capabilities to address critical challenges affecting the Baltimore community and beyond.
For FY24, Morgan State researchers submitted 331 new proposals requesting over $226 million in funding from various federal agencies. The University received 160 new funding commitments worth $88.5 million from these submissions. At the same time, it achieved targeted research expenditures of $50 million.
Willie E. May, Ph.D., vice president of research and economic development, praised the efforts of faculty and staff in elevating Morgan’s research profile.“Our sponsored research funding has risen from $33 million in FY 2018 to nearly $90 million this past fiscal year, while research expenditures have risen from $13 million in 2018 to an estimated $50 million for the year, which meets the R1 threshold,” May said.
The American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recently simplified the criteria for R1 classification. Now, universities must spend at least $50 million on research and award a minimum of 70 doctoral degrees annually. Morgan is developing strategies to return to pre-COVID levels, exceeding 70 doctoral graduates annually.
Since FY22, Morgan has consistently received $75 million or more in new awards annually, far surpassing the previous average of $32 million per year in 2021.
