DHS Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Programs: Research Linked to DHS Centers of Excellence (COE)

Setting The Stage

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of University Programs (OUP) attempts to link and facilitate the expertise of the country’s colleges and universities to address pressing homeland security issues and needs through its program activities. With this overall goal in mind, the Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Programs attempts to ensure the diversity of America is reflected in the future of Homeland Security science and technology work force. Centers of Excellence engage the academic community to deliver tools, technologies, knowledge products, training and talent to enhance the Department’s homeland security capabilities. The OUP education programs engage, educate and support academically high achieving students as well as early career faculty and other individuals toward choosing Homeland Security-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (HS-STEM) related careers. It is with these efforts that Morgan State University and other MSIs are able to support the mission of DHS. Table 1. is a summary capsule of collaborative efforts with a DHS, COE and Morgan State University, a Minority Serving Institution. It is important to note that the Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate has strongly supported collaborative efforts between the Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and the Centers for Excellence Program through summer programs and various research initiatives.