(a) The “Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)” or “initiative”, as used in this section, is an organizational unit of the commission, established and administered by the executive director for the purpose of providing oversight to focus on ways to strengthen the capacity of historically black colleges and universities to provide the highest quality education, increase opportunities for these institutions to participate in and benefit from state programs, and ensure that Tennessee has the highest proportion of college graduates from HBCUs in the country. The initiative shall operate in consultation with the consortium of historically black colleges and universities, pursuant to Part 29 of this chapter.

(b) The initiative shall work with state departments, agencies, offices, the private sector, educational associations, philanthropic organizations, and other partners to increase the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest quality education to a greater number of students, and to take advantage of these institutions' capabilities in serving the state's needs through five (5) core tasks:

(1) Strengthening the capacity of HBCUs to participate in state programs;

(2) Fostering enduring private-sector initiatives and public-private partnerships while promoting specific areas and centers of academic research and programmatic excellence throughout all HBCUs;

(3) Improving the availability, dissemination, and quality of information concerning HBCUs to inform public policy and practice;

(4) Sharing administrative and programmatic practices within the consortium for the benefit of all; and

(5) Exploring new ways of improving the relationship between the state and HBCUs.

(c)

(1) The commission is authorized and directed to provide all necessary and appropriate guidance, assistance, and support to facilitate strategy development and coordinated implementation by the initiative and the partnership to accomplish the respective and mutual key tasks of the initiative as outlined in subsection (b).

(2) In furtherance of subdivision (c)(1), the commission may enter into one (1) or more memoranda of cooperation with the initiative and the partnership on terms deemed by the commission to be appropriate, mutually beneficial, and in the best interest of the consortium and the partnership.

(d) All state departments and agencies are encouraged to create an annual plan of its efforts to strengthen the capacity of HBCUs through increased participation in appropriate federal programs and initiatives. Where appropriate, each agency plan shall address, among other things, the agency's proposed efforts to:

(1) Establish how the department or agency intends to increase the capacity of HBCUs to compete effectively for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements and to encourage HBCUs to participate in state programs;

(2) Identify state programs and initiatives in which HBCUs may be either underserved or underused as national resources, and improve HBCUs' participation therein; and

(3) Encourage public-sector, private-sector, and community involvement in improving the overall capacity of HBCUs.

(e) If a department or agency creates an annual plan pursuant to subsection (d), then the department or agency shall:

(1) Provide appropriate measurable objectives and, after the first year, shall annually assess that department's or agency's performance on the goals set in the previous year's agency plan; and

(2) Provide a written summary of the objectives and goals to the education committee of the senate and the education committee of the house of representatives within thirty (30) days of the annual assessment required in subdivision (e)(1).

(f) The initiative may establish a board of advisors to consist of no more than twenty-five (25) members appointed by the commission. The board shall include representatives of a variety of sectors, including philanthropy, education, business, finance, entrepreneurship, innovation, and private foundations, as well as sitting HBCU presidents. The board may advise the commission and the initiative in the following areas:

(1) Improving the identity, visibility, and distinctive capabilities and overall competitiveness of HBCUs;

(2) Engaging the philanthropic, business, government, military, homeland security, and education communities in a dialogue regarding new HBCU programs and initiatives;

(3) Improving the ability of HBCUs to remain fiscally secure institutions that can assist the state in reaching its educational goals;

(4) Elevating the public awareness of HBCUs; and

(5) Encouraging public-private investments in HBCUs.