U.S. Department of Education Announces 2024 National HBCU Week Conference

The annual National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Week Conference—the nation’s premier convening of college and university executive leadership, faculty, students, and supporters—will take place Sept. 15-19, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will deliver keynote remarks at the official opening session of the conference on Sept. 16. This year’s theme is “Raising the Bar: Where Excellence and Opportunity Meet.” 

This year’s conference is implemented under the leadership of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Excellence and Opportunity through HBCUs (the Initiative) in consultation with the President’s Executive Office and the U.S. Department of Education. The conference aims to identify and target tangible opportunities that will connect federal and private resources to the HBCU community while showcasing HBCU excellence.

This year’s event, with over 2,500 registrants, provides a unique occasion for federal agencies, private-sector companies, and philanthropic organizations to participate and provide helpful information and successful models to improve instruction, degree completion, and federal engagement to ensure the sustained elimination of systemic inequities. 

 The conference will feature sessions grouped into the following paths of engagement: 

• Career Pathways and Economic Mobility: This track is designed to maximize programs, resources, and initiatives that support the recruitment of HBCU talent, human capital, and career advancement opportunities. 
• Research and Innovation: This track is designed to expand research capacity and opportunities within federal agencies and private and nonprofit organizations for HBCUs. It is an opportunity to showcase innovation through partnerships that involve HBCUs, their faculty, and students. 
• Economic Development: This track will provide information on how HBCUs can leverage partnerships that advance opportunities to promote the economic wealth of these institutions and the communities they serve. 
• STEAM: This track will explore evidence-based tools and innovative practices in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. 
• Infrastructure: This track addresses ways to broaden access to resources that provide equitable support to mitigate, enhance, and sustain physical and technological infrastructure. 
• Emerging Leaders: This track is formulated for students and entry-to mid-level professionals. 
• Executive Leadership: This track includes engagements for HBCU presidents, chancellors, and invited executives.

The full conference schedule can be found here: 

Keynote Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona 

Who:   U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona  

Where: Philadelphia Marriott, Salons A-F 1201 Market St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When:  Monday, Sept. 16, 8 a.m. ET* *Time is subject to change* 

   Excellence in Innovation and Collaboration Acknowledgements 

Presentation and Scholars Recognition Ceremony 

Who:   CBS New York Journalist Jessi Mitchell – Welcome remarks White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Excellence and Opportunity through HBCUs Executive Director Dietra Trent 

Where: Philadelphia Marriott  Salons A-F* 1201 Market St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

When:  Monday, Sept. 16, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. ET* *Time is subject to change* 

Where Excellence and Opportunity Meet: The Administration and HBCUs 

Who:   Glenda Glover, vice chair, President’s Board of Advisors for HBCUs Tomikia LeGrande, president, Prairie View A&M University Yolanda Page, president, Stillman College David Wilson, president, Morgan State University Damara Hightower Mitchell, chief executive officer, Center of Excellence for Educator Preparation and Innovation, Voorhees University Bernadine Futrell, deputy assistant secretary, U.S. Department of Education Roslyn Holliday Moore, deputy director for programs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Roderick Chappell, lead – Partnerships and Sustainability – Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP), NASA 

Where: Philadelphia Marriott Salons A-F 1201 Market St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

When:  Tuesday, Sept. 17, 9 – 10:15 a.m. ET* *Time is subject to change* 

President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities Quarterly Meeting 

Who:   President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs James Kvaal, under secretary, U.S. Department of Education Dietra Trent, executive director, White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Excellence and Opportunity through HBCUs 

Where: Philadelphia Marriott Liberty Ballroom1201 Market St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

When:  Thursday, Sept. 19, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. ET* *Time is subject to change* 

ACCESS: Members of the public may join this open meeting via Public Access: https://events.intellor.com/login/507130 or by phone only at (202) 735-3323, access code 7347197#.