Morgan State University Selected to Participate in National Sustainability Pilot Program for HBCUs, Receiving $150,000 in Grants and Support

BIT for HBCUs Initiative to Provide Financial Support and Resources for Enhanced Campus Sustainability and Climate Resilience

BALTIMORE — Morgan State University has been selected as one of five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to participate in the “Building Improvement Toolkits for Resilient HBCUs” (BIT for HBCUs) initiative, a three-year sustainability pilot launched by Southface Institute and the Sustain Our Future Foundation (SOFF). As a key participant in this pioneering program, Morgan will receive $150,000 in implementation grants, comprehensive technical support, and opportunities for workforce development. Additionally, Morgan will gain access to advanced building management tools designed to help participating campuses reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and enhance long-term climate resilience.

Morgan joins Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Texas Southern University, and Xavier University of Louisiana as demonstration sites for climate leadership and resilience.

“We are proud that Morgan State University is one of the five HBCUs selected to participate in the Building Improvement Toolkits (BIT) for Resilient HBCUs Pilot Initiative,” said Linda Loubert, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Liberal Arts’ Department of Political Science and Economics. “This initiative offers a valuable opportunity to assess the efficiency of our campus infrastructure—specifically in the areas of energy, water, and waste—as we take meaningful steps toward achieving long-term climate resilience.”

The BIT for HBCUs initiative explores how practical, cost-effective improvements can reduce energy consumption by 10%-20% without major capital investments. The resulting savings will allow schools to redirect resources toward advancing academic programs, student services, and other priority projects. By leveraging technical expertise, student training, and community partnerships, Southface and SOFF are positioning HBCUs as national leaders in sustainability resilience. This initiative not only supports Morgan State but also establishes a replicable model that other institutions can adopt and replicate.

“This initiative positions HBCUs as sustainability hubs that extend their impact far beyond campus boundaries,” said Yinka Bode-George, founder and CEO of the Sustain Our Future Foundation. “By enhancing building energy efficiency and fostering student workforce development, we are creating a model for climate action that strengthens local resilience and ensures all communities benefit from a sustainable future.”

The comprehensive program consists of five key components:

1. Building Improvement Toolkit Access: Participating campuses will have full access to Southface’s online platform, which centralizes sustainability resources and best practices. This will enable HBCU students to collaborate with facilities teams, making data-driven decisions about energy, water, and waste efficiency on their campuses and in their communities.
2. Professional Climate Action Planning: WSP, a leading global engineering and advisory firm, will provide funded consulting services to develop comprehensive climate action plans. These plans include greenhouse gas inventorying, emissions reduction modeling, and road mapping to achieve net-zero emissions.
3. Community Partnership Model: Each campus will function as a climate hub for nearby affordable multifamily housing complexes, extending building efficiency improvements into surrounding communities. This will help lower utility costs for community members and enhance the role of HBCU institutions in local resilience efforts.
4. Student Workforce Development: Twenty-five students from the five participating institutions will be trained and certified as BIT Practitioners through year-long paid fellowships. They will gain hands-on experience in sustainability while obtaining GPRO Operations & Maintenance Certificates, BIT Practitioner Credentials, continuing education credits, and expert mentorship.
5. Implementation Grants: Each participating HBCU received a $150,000 grant from the Sustain Our Future Foundation to support the implementation of their campus sustainability goals.

As the implementation partner for BIT for HBCUs, the Southface Institute brings extensive expertise in translating energy efficiency initiatives into measurable results. Since 2014, Southface has trained more than 5,600 individuals and achieved savings of over 202 million kWh through 545 GoodUse projects, including efficiency upgrades for 23,000 affordable housing units. Building on this proven model—where BIT Building projects typically reduce energy costs by 5–20% without major capital investments—Southface has extended its approach to HBCU campuses. Through BIT for HBCUs, facilities teams are learning to cut operating costs, reinvest savings into academic priorities, and equip students for careers in clean energy. Student fellows will gain hands-on experience working alongside campus staff and local housing providers to apply practical solutions such as optimizing HVAC systems, reducing lighting waste, and leveraging utility incentive programs.

The BIT for HBCUs pilot program will begin implementation in Spring 2026, with participating institutions expected to serve as models for sustainable campus operations and community engagement. The success of the initiative will inform efforts to expand the program to additional HBCUs across the country.

About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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Media Contacts:

Cheryl Stewart or Larry Jones,  for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022