Minority Serving Institutions Program

The Office of University Programs (OUP) helps build a diverse, highly capable, technical workforce for the Homeland Security Enterprise through the Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Program.

About Minority Serving Institutions Program

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The Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Program provides grants and awards to build a diverse, talented research capability and technical workforce for the homeland security enterprise. OUP collaborates with members from MSIs including: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Predominantly Black Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. DHS is recruiting a cadre of students and faculty from diverse backgrounds ready to begin careers in the homeland security science and engineering workforce.

Scientific Leadership Awards

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The DHS Scientific Leadership Award Program awards grants and creatively engages students and faculty in research relevant to the homeland security enterprise. The program allows SLA recipients to learn techniques, build capacity, and connect with organizations that support homeland security mission areas. These awards support the development of enduring educational and research capabilities within the MSI communities. Each Scientific Leadership Award recipient is required to partner with a DHS Center of Excellence (COE).

Summer Research Teams

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The DHS Summer Research Team (SRT) Program places MSI teams made up of early-career faculty, undergraduate and graduate students for ten weeks to conduct full-time collaborative research at a DHS COE. The program provides opportunities to better understand the mission and research needs of DHS and make advances in DHS research areas.

Research Development Consortium Partnership

Through an interagency agreement with the Department of Defense, OUP is partnered with the Minority Serving Institution Research and Development Consortium (MSRDC), which provides direct funding to MSIs that serve as prime on projects conducting high-level DHS research and rapid development. MSRDC consists of more than 70 MSIs, 15 R1 universities (R1 universities are those that meet benchmarks in research activity and expenditures as measured by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education), and 37 partnering private industry organizations.