The Department of Education’s White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities has announced the dates for the 2023 National HBCU Week Conference.

Scheduled for September 24-28, the event will bring together college and university leaders, faculty, students, and supporters.

This year’s theme, “Raising the Bar: Forging Excellence through Innovation & Leadership,” aims to connect the HBCU community with federal and private resources through workshops, interactive exhibits, keynote speeches, and other opportunities.

The 5th Annual National HBCU Week Conference Career and Recruitment Fair, which will be held on September 28, is the highlight of the conference.

The in-person event offers professional development sessions, direct hiring, and recruitment opportunities in various categories, including Career Services Support, Career Pathways Development, Workforce Development, Entrepreneurship/Leadership, and Access and Affordability.

The career fair is free and open to all National Annual HBCU participants and the public, including undergraduates, graduates, doctoral candidates, recent alums, and experienced professionals.

Its objectives are to recruit diverse talent, introduce career, fellowship, internship, and higher education opportunities, and establish professional relationships that will expand networks and enhance professional development.

The priorities of the career fair are to increase awareness of public and private programs, share career pathways, increase equity and access, expand outreach and networks, recruit HBCU talent, and communicate economic and community opportunities.

On Friday, September 29, 2023, The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities will host the International Day Federal Workshop for HBCUs with Howard University Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center.

The workshop, part of The National HBCU Week Conference, is hosted by the White House Initiative on HBCUs, International Affairs Cluster.

It aims to bring together representatives from various U.S. Federal Government Agencies to discuss the range of resources and opportunities available to HBCUs.

The workshop’s main objective is to provide opportunities for students, educators, scholars, and artists to participate in study, teaching, research, and internship programs abroad.

It will also cover strategies for recruiting international students, faculty, and scholars, building capacity for staff and faculty who support study abroad, and establishing and maximizing international partnerships.

The workshop aims to champion campus internationalization at HBCUs, highlight best practices and success stories from HBCU grantees, and strengthen collaborations between HBCUs and U.S. Federal Government Agencies.

Representatives from U.S. Federal Government Agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education, the Department of State, the Agency for International Development, the Department of Commerce, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Peace Corps will be present.

Announcing the 2023 National HBCU Week Conference: “Raising the Bar: Forging Excellence Through Innovation & Leadership”!

Join @SecCardona & @WHI_HBCUs from September 24-28 to celebrate the leadership, excellence, & innovation of #HBCUs.

➡️https://t.co/oTPOWm0mwO #EDBusTour23 pic.twitter.com/rvGqjQiRNN

— U.S. Department of Education (@usedgov) September 6, 2023

Register today for the International Day Federal Workshop for HBCUS taking place at Howard University on Friday September 29th. https://t.co/OB6GQplRXB pic.twitter.com/AtcoEdZ4NY

— White House HBCUs (@WHI_HBCUs) September 15, 2023