Recent data suggests a crisis of confidence: nearly two-thirds of higher education faculty believe graduates are entering the workforce unprepared for an AI-driven economy. While many institutions have reacted with a defensive posture, tightening integrity policies and debating bans, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), our member schools and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) nationwide are taking a different approach. We are leaning in. For our students, technological fluency is not and has never been a luxury. It is a prerequisite for equity.
From consumption to creation
The historical narrative of the black box of AI is one of bias and exclusion. If the engineers, policy makers and ethical auditors of these systems do not come from our campuses, those biases will remain prevalent into the next century of American life.
This is why we are shifting our focus from AI consumption to AI creation. One example is Howard University, which recently partnered with TMCF and industry experts CodePath to launch an intro to AI course. Marking its debut as a credit-bearing offering, this CodePath-developed course empowers students to build a professional-grade portfolio. Each student will finish the term by demonstrating a mastery of responsible AI application within a real-world development framework.
Similarly, Virginia State University (VSU) was recently awarded a grant from TMCF to establish secure AI infrastructure, expand AI literacy among students, faculty and staff, and integrate artificial intelligence into academic and administrative workflows. The initiative positions VSU as a national model for ethical AI adoption in higher education.
A workforce and research mandate
When we advocate for the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act in Congress, we aren't just asking for new roofs and pipes. We are asking for the high-performance computing centers and neural network labs, like those highlighted at the recent HBCU AI Summit at Huston-Tillotson, that allow our students to be the architects of AI, not just its subjects.
In 2026, corporate America is looking for a pipeline of diverse, tech-ready talent. By providing scholarships and professional development specifically focused on STEM and AI, we are continuing to provide a path while closing the skills gap. Critical thinking, ethical judgment and creative inquiry are now the premium skills that elevate a human worker.
HBCUs have always been the engines of social mobility. In 2026, mobility is synonymous with technological mastery. At TMCF and at HBCUs across the nation, we are moving with urgency to ensure that our students are not just the end-users of the future, but its authors. Our mission is to ensure that the next great AI breakthrough doesn’t just come from a lab in Silicon Valley, but from a dorm room in Greensboro, Nashville or Prairie View.
Harry L. Williams is the president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
