wfn.org | Bethune-Cookman, Claflin join research alliance

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Dec. 16, 1998	Contact: Linda Green((615)742-5470(Nashville, Tenn.
{742}

By United Methodist News Service
 
Two United Methodist-related colleges are involved in a consortium of
historically black schools created to provide research and development
for government, industry and academia.

Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Fla., and Claflin College,
Orangeburg, S.C., join eight other colleges and universities in a new
organization known as HMIRA, the Historically Black Colleges and
Minority Research Alliance. 

Formally launched by Bethune-Cookman in November after eight months of
planning, HMIRA was established to enhance opportunities for technical
research at black colleges and universities and to give a cadre of
students first-hand knowledge and experience in the world of research
before their graduation. The alliance grew out of Students Organized for
Undergraduate Research (SOURCE) which has chapters on 15 college
campuses. 

 Bethune-Cookman , under the guidance of Theodore Nicholson, chairman of
the college's science division, is playing the lead role in the HMIRA
consortium. Other members are: Alabama A&M, Normal, Ala.; Grambling
(La.) State University; Langston (Okla.) University; Morgan State
University, Baltimore, Md.; Oakwood College, Huntsville, Ala.; Prairie
View (Texas)  A&M; Southern University-Baton Rouge, La.; and the
University of Houston-Downtown.  Three industries involved with HMIRA
are: IBM, Colsa Corporation and Lockhead-Martin.

Nicholson said the consortium has strengthened the  ability of
individual schools to produce students trained to perform high-tech and
quality research development for government, industry and academia. He
also noted that the research capacity of small schools will be enhanced
and students from smaller schools will have more opportunities to
participate in research projects. 

"Our institutions have many talented scientists," Nicholson said.
"However, individually our institutions do not usually attract the major
contracts that larger universities are able to attract.  Now that we
have come together as a unified body of specialists, we will be able to
solicit more substantial research projects."	          #  #  #

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
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