In 2002, the National Library of Medicine and the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP) launched the UNCFSP/NLM-HBCU ACCESS Project to promote disease prevention and wellness at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) through the use of the online health resources provided by NLM.

The primary goal of the project is to increase the utilization of NLM's online resources on HBCU campuses and in the surrounding communities.

The UNCFSP/NLM-HBCU ACCESS project consists of a four-tiered strategy:

• Establishment of an advisory committee to assist in program planning
• Organizing an orientation workshop to introduce the program to HBCU faculty and staff
• Awarding grants to HBCUs that successfully compete to craft and implement projects which help to enhance the utilization of NLM online resources on their campuses and in the surrounding communities
• Technical assistance, including workshops for grantees, and conducting site visits to provide them with specialized assistance in implementing their projects.

The program is housed within UNCFSP's Health & Community Development Division with an overall mission to help eliminate disparities that disproportionately affect ethnic minority populations. Each year will culminate in a conference that will enable the grant awarded institutions to share their projects and outcomes with additional HBCUs. This conference will also serve as the beginning of a new opportunity for HBCUs to receive technical assistance and training from NLM and UNCFSP.

Click here to access the NLM/HBCU Access Project on the Web.