Established in 1996, the DLL originally focused on the development of innovative software applications for data analysis and distance learning under a series of contracts with the U.S. Defense Advanced Projects Agency (DARPA). It is currently engaged in two initiatives:

The Gateway to HBCUs -- an online monthly magazine that has become one of the Web's most reliable sources of news about the academic achievements of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), e.g., contracts, grants, patents, awards, graduation rates, accreditation, distance learning programs, and new instructional technologies.

Project Archimedes II -- an extended exploration of the viability of partnerships between non-profit institutions of higher learning and for-profit vendors of online courses. The non-profit institution is Howard University Continuing Education (HUCE); its for-profit partners include the Center for Legal Studies, Gatlin Education Services, MindEdge, Inc, and Reed Educational Services.