Morgan State University is getting closer to its goal of reaching R1 status as they have reported receiving a combined $100.8 million in grants, contracts, and gifts, in addition to a $27-million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23).

The remarkable investment in Maryland’s largest HBCU includes a record-high $83.3 million in new federal funding commitments for University research and training. This marks the second consecutive year of historic funding commitments, an 11% increase over the previous year, according to the university.

“Significant and impactful research is taking place on the campus of Morgan State University. Our research is far from being esoteric and is addressing so many of the intractable challenges facing urban and marginalized communities,” said Morgan State president David K. Wilson.

During FY23, university researchers submitted 321 new proposals requesting more than $385 million in available funding from various U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, and more. As a result, Morgan State received 165 new funding commitments from proposals submitted this and last academic year, worth $83.3 million.

Projects that received funding during the past year include:

• $15-million grant over five years from the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish a Sustainable Mobility and Accessibility Regional Transportation Equity Research (SMARTER) Center,
• a five-year, $9-million grant from The Office of Naval Research to address a critical Department of Defense (DoD) need for research in building diverse knowledge bases related to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), with an emphasis on cybersecurity. 
• a five-year, $5-million grant from The U.S. Department of Energy to establish an integrated field laboratory (IFL) to study climate impacts and adaptations in urban environments. 
•  a $5-million grant from The National Science Foundation’s Center of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program to establish a new research and education hub at Morgan State.
• a $4.1 million grant from The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration by way of the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program, to expand high-speed internet access to underserved areas and improve digital equity. 

“Whether we are talking about resources received from our federal partners or those received from our corporate partners and individual donors, the more than $100 million achieved during FY23 is a strong endorsement of Morgan’s central role in driving innovation in our state and nation. Morgan is fast positioning itself to be one of the top institutions in the nation in addressing bias in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Systems; in reducing educational disparities; tackling health inequities; researching the root causes of and identifying strategies to reduce violence; building strong cybersecurity programs and research prowess; and in producing an impressive array of diverse talent to drive competitiveness in Maryland and beyond,” Wilson noted.

Morgan State also had a steady year of philanthropic donations, as The Division of Institutional Advancement received approximately $17.5 million in combined gifts and donations during FY23, a 33.5% increase over FY19’s pre-pandemic giving amount. The university reports an estimated 79% of the revenue received was from corporations and foundations and that the gifts received will go towards funding scholarships, academic programs, research, and student aid.

“We also believe in involving our undergraduate students in the research enterprise, not just doctoral and post-doctoral students. We are building the type of research university we hope will be a model for this country. Morgan is on a path toward achieving an R1, very high research university status, and maintaining this type of continued investment will support getting us there.” Wilson remarked.