NCDHHS HBCUs/MSIs & Change Champion Internship and Workforce Development Program

In coordination with the NCDHHS priority to build a strong and inclusive workforce, the Division of Public Health (DPH) and the Health Equity Portfolio (HEP, the Portfolio) launched a targeted recruitment effort for internship placement in partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). Creating relationships with HBCUs and MSIs is one initiative of the Workforce Pipeline Working Group, which allows for more equitable opportunities for internship access within NCDHHS. The program launched in the summer of 2022 with a small pilot, has hosted Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts since that time, and will be returning to a summer-only cohort in 2024. The program encourages college students to seek careers in public health and government. 

Definitions 

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are institutions that were established before 1984 with the principal mission of educating Black students. These institutions were founded in an environment of legal segregation, and by providing access to higher education, they contributed substantially to the progress Black people made in improving their status. You can find more information on HBCUs from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) are institutions of higher education that serve minority populations. They are unique both in their missions and in their day-to-day operations. Some of these colleges and universities are in remote regions of the country, whereas others serve urban neighborhoods. Some are only a few decades old, whereas others have been striving for more than a century to give their constituents the social and educational skills needed to overcome racial discrimination and limited economic opportunities. You can find more information about MSIs from the U.S. Office of Civil Rights

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, MSIs are federally recognized Title IV colleges and Universities that enroll high concentrations of minority students. These schools refer to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). MSIs support many minority students, low-income students, and first-generation college graduates. To learn more, visit the Rutgers and the U.S. Department of Energy websites.