Diversity of HBCUs’ Institutional Human Capital: A Cross-Discipline, Longitudinal Analysis of Faculty Hiring and Placement at HBCUs

Abstract This study examines the diversity of institutional human capital at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by analyzing faculty educational backgrounds using a large data set on faculty hiring and placement. The analysis includes approximately four thousand faculty members employed at 10 research-intensive R2 HBCUs between 2011 and 2020. The results reveal that the 10 R2 HBCUs primarily hired tenure-track faculty from predominantly White R1 institutions. In contrast, HBCUs hired approximately 20% of their own graduates, while less than 10% of hires came from other HBCUs. Regarding placement, about 60% of HBCU graduates sought employment at HBCUs, while only a small number found employment at R1 institutions. Notably, Howard University placed 30 graduates at R1 institutions. This downward placement pattern underscores a significant trend: most HBCU hires are from R1 institutions, while HBCU graduates primarily find employment at institutions with lower research intensity. Understanding these patterns is crucial for addressing disparities in faculty representation and supporting the growth of Black professionals in academia.