It’s one of the largest private grants in the University’s 150+ year history!
Clark Atlanta University has received $11.8 million to further digital education, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The southern HBCU announced this week that it has received an $11.8 million grant, one of the largest private grants in the history of the university, to further digital education. Awarded on behalf of California based company EON Reality, the funding will go towards preparing students for careers in the augmented and virtual reality industries as well as train faculty and students in digital information.
“When a university with their commitment to social justice and deep focus on digital learning can utilize and add to the Knowledge Metaverse, the possibilities for reshaping our society are endless,” said Dan Lejerskar, EON Reality founder.
According to the Brookings Institution, Black representation in tech is staggeringly low, with Black people making up only 7.9 percent of the workers in computer and math sectors. Even worse, the numbers are on a steady decline, Black workers making up 7.9 percent of those in computer and math jobs in 2016 compared to 8.1 percent in 2022. Tech companies are now searching for ways to increase those numbers, looking to HBCUs as the primary place to build the next future of tech workers.
Clark Atlanta President George T. French Jr. issued a statement saying the grant is one of many University partnerships to “support our efforts to step into the future of interactive teaching and learning through relevant and future-focused innovations.”
Congratulations, Clark Atlanta! Continue to “find a way or make one!”
Photo Courtesy of CNN