WOMEN LIE, MEN LIE, NUMBERS DON'T!!!

Formally Known As

Institute for Colored Youth

THE LIFE OF THE HBCU AND THE CONCERNS OF THE AFRICAN       AMERICAN COMMUNITY (Condensed Version)

THE FOUNDATION OF HBCU’s

The first HBCU, Cheney University in Pennsylvania, was founded in 1837.[1] Since then, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have continued to offer culture, a rich history and a rigorous academic program.[2] HBCUs have been a part of the African American community for decades and will always be a part of the foundation for African Americans success.[3]  At one point, the only source of higher education for African Americans was HBCUs.  Then in 1965, Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 officially defined an HBCU as a school of higher learning.[4]  Currently, there are 106 HBCUs across the nation.[5]   The Thurgood Marshall Fund site states that “Today, HBCUS remain one of the surest ways for an African American, or student of any race, to receive a quality education.”[6]     

HBCUs graduate nearly 20 percent of African Americans that have undergraduate degrees.[7] Research also shows that HBCU institutions graduate more than 50 percent of African American professional and public school teachers.[8]  Another great thing about HBCUs is that they do not discriminate against other races.  Not only do they help so many African Americans, but HBCU’s have also provided a significant percentage of non-African American student populations from Asian to International students.[9]   Several HBCUs in the past decades have emerged as selective, modern, well governed, and sustainable schools.[10] HBCU’s attract high quality applicants, while producing well-educated and fully prepared graduates.[11] 

CAN HBCU’S COMPETE

A professor by the name of Richard America from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., wrote an article offering strategies on how HBCU’s can compete in today’s world of higher education.[12]  In this article he suggested things like HBCU’s should seek to rise in rankings to the next highest tier by 2030.[13]  Mr. America says that the HBCU should identify the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) of two aspirational schools in the next higher tier and emulate them, and make one department and build a strong core of faculty to make that department truly outstanding.[14]  He also suggested making standards for sororities and fraternities and similar groups that create an academic and ethos environment, and that the HBCU should eliminate the rap and hip-hop mentality that these groups are being led by.[15]  He felt that sororities and fraternities have been destructive and anti-intellectual forces on campuses.[16]

I really believe that this strategy would hinder a lot of the HBCU’s mission statements.  I also disagree with him when it comes to his outlook on fraternities and sororities.  Fraternities and sororities were made for community service purposes, along with providing a brother and sisterhood beyond the education setting.  Fraternities and Sororities overall have character.  All black Greek organizations are based on academic success. Professor America’s advice is an opinion of a professor that has not attended an HBCU or taught at one.  He also makes a statement that “HBCUs can do better at continuously improving efficiency and reducing costs.”[17]  HBCU’s funding is not as high as PWI’s.  History has shown that HBCU’s have done a lot with little funding from the government.  I agree that HBCU’s should focus on moving up in the rankings however, the necessary funding and political backup has to be in place as well. 

HBCU’s lost a devastating 14,000 students in 2011. This was due to the denial of the parent PLUS loan to be continued.[18]  This denial came at a shocker to parents along with the colleges and universities.  In 2010 and 2011 Federal departments that contracted and worked with HBCUs have seen funding reduced by more than $115 million.[19]  Programs like Work-Study and other grants have been cut by $51 million, and that amount of funding being decreased disproportionately affects HBCU students.[20]  Walter Kimbrough whom was the seventh president of Dillard University stated;

There is a fear of a Black planet, or a fear of Black intelligence.  Our colleges are repositories of Black knowledge, which some would like to ignore.  We are plagued by low endowments but also by our nation’s indifference to our service.  We prepare students for graduate and professional school.  We take first-generation students and make them career-ready.[21]

The above quote shows the belief in the effectiveness of the HBCU.  The world is full of racism and classism.  The Times or the study reflect the fact that HBCU’s bestowing as many as 40% of degrees in STEM, and educated half of the country’s blacks in health professions which are mid to high level income occupations.[22]   The statistics show that degrees from HBCU’s do not hinder the success of graduates in the job market.  African-Americans who graduate from a HBCU do better financially than Blacks who graduate from PWI’s, according to a new study by economists at Morehouse College and Howard University.[23]

CONCLUSION

HBCUs are the backbone to this country.  HBCUs provide the teachers a great number of teachers to this country.  HBCUs give the meaning to not having much but gaining everything.  The spiritual background along with the educational roots that the HBCU has planted inside the educational soil of this country has expanded beyond the thoughts of what PWI’s expected, and has surpassed the stereotypes that have been forced upon them.  Research has shown the many contributing factors of the HBCU to this countries rise and the HBCU will continue to contribute whether it’s 105 HBCU’s or just 1 HBCU standing. 

Please give your insight on this article which I have took the time to research to make you all aware of the STATS.... Conversation is KEY!

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[1] About Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUS),Thurgood Marshall College Fund.net,  http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.net/about-tmcf/about-hbcus (last visited Nov. 15, 2013).

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.

[7] Id.

[8] Id.

[9] Id.

[10] Richard F. America, Can HBCUs Compete?, The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education (Oct. 24, 2012) http://www.jbhe.com/2012/10/can-hbcus-compete/ (last visited Nov. 15, 2013).

[11] About Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUS),Thurgood Marshall College Fund.net,  http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.net/about-tmcf/about-hbcus (last visited Nov. 15, 2013).

[12] http://www.jbhe.com/2012/10/can-hbcus-compete/ (last visited Nov. 15, 2013)

[13] Id.

[14] Id.

[15] Id.

[16] Id.

[17] Id.

[18] Id. 

[19] Id. 

[20] Id. 

[21] Id. 

[22] Id.

[23] http://hbcubuzz.com/hbcu-grads-outperform-black-graduates-of-predominately-white-institutions-pwi/ (last visited Nov. 30, 2013).