Phase 1:Executive Summary

HBCU Master’s Program – Executive Summary

Program Mission: The HBCU Master’s Program significantly enhanced graduate education for Black and low-income students in STEM and allied health disciplines, establishing FSU as a leader in educational excellence, diversity, and innovation. Through strategic investments in infrastructure, scholarships, and academic programs, the initiative transformed the educational landscape while maintaining fiscal stability and fostering sustained growth.

Key Performance Indicators

564

Total Students Enrolled
(2018-2023)

256

Degrees Awarded
to Program Participants

Overall Enrollment Growth
(6,226 to 6,787)

Academic Expansion

New MBA Concentrations: Business Intelligence & Data Analytics, Health Informatics, Cyber Security Management, Digital Enterprise & Cloud Management
Education Programs: MAT Elementary Education with STEM concentrations; MAT/MEd Middle Grades Mathematics and Science
Nursing Initiative: Master of Science in Nursing in Patient Quality and Safety (approved 2020)
Industry Partnerships: SAP Next-Gen Lab (first in Southeast U.S.), IBM AI Training, SAS certification programs

Student Success Outcomes

Graduation Rates: 4-year rate increased from 17% to 28%; 6-year rate rose from 33% to 44%
Retention: Maintained 63-77% fall-to-fall retention with comprehensive support systems
Employment: 81% of graduates employed in fields directly related to their studies
Career Readiness: MBA BIDA graduates secured average starting salaries of $75K

Infrastructure & Innovation

Technological Advancements: Renovated computer labs and educational technology spaces in the College of Education and Broadwell College of Business & Economics enabled remote learning capabilities, supporting students across geographic barriers and facilitating program continuity during COVID-19.

Professional Certifications: Four undergraduate and six graduate courses integrated into internationally recognized certification programs, with FSU achieving above-global-average certification rates in SAP TERP10 training.

        Financial Impact & Sustainability: The program maintained stable average costs of attendance (\$16,190-\$19,998/year) while significantly increasing scholarship support, particularly through CARES Act funding during the pandemic. Zero audit findings (2018-2019) demonstrated exemplary fiscal management. The program’s success contributed to FSU securing \$152 million for new construction projects, including \$63 million for a new College of Education building.
    

Resilience & Adaptability

Despite challenges including Hurricane Florence (2018) and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2023), the program demonstrated exceptional resilience by transitioning to virtual platforms, successfully hosting the 2022 Student Research Symposium with 260 participants, and maintaining educational quality. The program’s 81% of students reported that scholarship support alleviated pandemic-related stress, highlighting holistic student support beyond financial assistance.

Legacy & Future Impact

The HBCU Master’s Program established a sustainable foundation for graduate education excellence at FSU, with expanded academic offerings, state-of-the-art facilities, industry partnerships, and a proven model for supporting underrepresented students in STEM fields. The program successfully completed SACSCOC reaffirmation (2022) with no recommendations, affirming FSU’s commitment to academic standards and program integrity.