The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education

Saint Augustine’s University Will Appeal Accreditation Decision

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has recently voted to remove Saint Augustine's University's accreditation. The university will maintain its accreditation during the appeals process. To remain accredited, the HBCU has until February 2025 to provide evidence of its financial stability.

A Change in Leadership at Tennessee State University

Ronald Johnson, who has served as interim president of Tennessee State University for the past six monthly, has abruptly resigned his position. The university's board of trustees has appointed Dwayne Tucker, a Tennessee State University alumnus, as the new interim president of the university. He has been serving as CEO of LEAD Public Schools, a network of five charter middle and high schools in the Nashville area.

Brown University Announces New Initiatives to Recruit and Retain a Diverse Student Body

"In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that greatly limited any consideration of race in admission decisions, Brown remains committed to complying with the law while fostering a diverse and inclusive community as integral to our mission of academic excellence," wrote Provost Francis Doyle and Patricia Poitevien, interim vice president for institutional equity and diversity.

Research & Studies

While Diversity Among College-Educated Adults Increases, Diversity in the Teacher Workforce Lags Behind

A new study has found that while diversity has grown among America's college-educated adults , diversity in the country's teacher workforce is lagging behind.

African American Fatalities at Work Declined in 2023

The number of Black Americans killed at work in 2022 was the highest number recorded since statistics on workplace fatalities have been collected. But in 2023, Black fatalities at work declined by more than 10 percent.

Specific Fields Where No African Americans Earned Doctorates in 2023

In 2023, 890 doctoral degrees were awarded in fields where none of the recipients were African Americans.

Ending Affirmative Action May Not Produce a More Academically Gifted Student Body

Scholars from Cornell University have found removing race data from AI applicant-ranking algorithms results in a less diverse applicant pool without meaningfully increasing the group's academic merit.

Statistic of the Week

1.2%
Black percentage of all doctorates in mathematics that were awarded by U.S. universities in 2023
25.8%
Black percentage of all doctorates in educational leadership and policy that were awarded by U.S. universities in 2023

Source: National Science Foundation (see JBHE post)

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Quote of the Week

“Racism is still alive and kicking in America. Today, white supremacy got another victory. Today, the KKK, the Klansmen, the evil in America got another victory.”

Hawk Newsome,

co-founder, Black Lives Matter-New York, after the acquittal of Daniel Penny, who was accused of manslaughter in the choking and killing of 30-year-old Jordan Neely on a New York City subway in 2023.

JBHE Archives

All Recent Posts

Black First-Year Student Enrollment Plummets at Harvard Law

This academic year, only 19 Black students enrolled in Harvard Law's first-year class. This is the lowest number of Black first-year law students at Harvard since 1965.

Recent Books of Interest to African American Scholars

The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. The books included are on a wide variety of subjects and present many different points of view.

While Diversity Among College-Educated Adults Increases, Diversity in the Teacher Workforce Lags Behind

A new study has found that while diversity has grown among America's college-educated adults , diversity in the country's teacher workforce is lagging behind.

Soyica Diggs Colbert Appointed Interim Provost at Georgetown University

A Georgetown faculty member for more than a decade, Dr. Colbert has been serving as the inaugural vice president for interdisciplinary studies and the Idol Family Professor in the department of Black studies and the department of performing arts.

African American Fatalities at Work Declined in 2023

The number of Black Americans killed at work in 2022 was the highest number recorded since statistics on workplace fatalities have been collected. But in 2023, Black fatalities at work declined by more than 10 percent.

Steven Jones Appointed President of Mississippi Delta Community College

Dr. Jones has been serving as Mississippi Delta Community College's vice president of administrative and student services. He is slated to become the institution's 10th president on January 1.

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Georgia Southwestern State University Names a New Leader

Dr. Ross has focused his career on advancing nursing education through evidence-based practices and interdisciplinary collaboration. He currently serves as dean of nursing and chief nurse administrator at St. Paul's School of Nursing in New York.

Doctoral Program at Morgan State University Will Not Face Competition From Towson State

The Maryland Higher Education Commission has ruled that Towson University cannot create a doctorate in sustainability and environmental change as it is too similar to Morgan State University's doctorate in bioenvironmental science.

The 2024 Frederick Douglass Book Prize Has Been Awarded to Two Black Scholars

The 2024 Frederick Douglass Book Prize has been awarded to Marlene Daut, professor at Yale University, and Sara Johnson, professor at the University of California, San Diego.

Winston-Salem State University to Increase Campus Acreage by One-Third

Winston-Salem State University has acquired 42 acres of land that will be used to expand student housing and academic space. The new land increases the HBCU's footprint by one-third.

New Administrative Appointments for Three African Americans in Higher Education

The African Americans appointed to new administrative posts in higher education are Gregory Young at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dana Hector at Howard University, and Ashley Allen at Augustana College in Illinois.

Wiley University Establishes a New Partnership With a Community College in Anguilla

Students studying at Anguilla Community College on the Caribbean island of Anguilla now have the opportunity to pursue a bachelor's degree with historically Black Wiley University in Texas.

In Memoriam: Yvonne Jeffries Johnson, 1942-2024

A two-time HBCU graduate, Johnson was the first African American elected to the Greensboro City Council and the city's first-ever Black mayor. She was chair of the board of trustees at Bennett College for 10 years.

Recent Books of Interest to African American Scholars

The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. The books included are on a wide variety of subjects and present many different points of view.

Online Articles That May Be of Interest to JBHE Readers

Each week, JBHE will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week’s selections.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: James Solomon, Jr., 1930-2024

While teaching at Morris College, an HBCU in South Carolina, Solomon enrolled in the graduate program in mathematics at the University of South Carolina, making him one of the institution's first three Black students.

Street Named to Honor the First Black Football Player at the University of Memphis

Rogers walked-on to the football team at what was then Memphis State University in 1968, making him the institution's first Black football player. After graduating in 1972, he spent the next four decades as a coach and administrator with Memphis-area schools.

In Memoriam: Clyde Aveilhe, 1937-2024

Dr. Aveilhe held various student affairs and governmental affairs positions with Howard University, California State University, and the City University of New York.

Ending Affirmative Action May Not Produce a More Academically Gifted Student Body

Scholars from Cornell University have found removing race data from AI applicant-ranking algorithms results in a less diverse applicant pool without meaningfully increasing the group's academic merit.

Saint Augustine’s University Will Appeal Accreditation Decision

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has recently voted to remove Saint Augustine's University's accreditation. The university will maintain its accreditation during the appeals process. To remain accredited, the HBCU has until February 2025 to provide evidence of its financial stability.

A Change in Leadership at Tennessee State University

Ronald Johnson, who has served as interim president of Tennessee State University for the past six monthly, has abruptly resigned his position. The university's board of trustees has appointed Dwayne Tucker, a Tennessee State University alumnus, as the new interim president of the university. He has been serving as CEO of LEAD Public Schools, a network of five charter middle and high schools in the Nashville area.

There Are Large Racial Gaps in Doctoral Awards in Specific Disciplines

African Americans earned 7.7 percent of all doctorates earned by U.S. residents and permanent residents. But Blacks are vastly underrepresented in some disciplines. For example, Blacks earned only 1.9 percent of all doctorates awarded in the geological sciences, 1.2 percent of all mathematics doctorates, 2.5 percent of all doctorates in physics, and 1.9 percent of all doctorates in astronomy.

All Recent Posts

Black First-Year Student Enrollment Plummets at Harvard Law

This academic year, only 19 Black students enrolled in Harvard Law's first-year class. This is the lowest number of Black first-year law students at Harvard since 1965.

Recent Books of Interest to African American Scholars

The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. The books included are on a wide variety of subjects and present many different points of view.

While Diversity Among College-Educated Adults Increases, Diversity in the Teacher Workforce Lags Behind

A new study has found that while diversity has grown among America's college-educated adults , diversity in the country's teacher workforce is lagging behind.

Soyica Diggs Colbert Appointed Interim Provost at Georgetown University

A Georgetown faculty member for more than a decade, Dr. Colbert has been serving as the inaugural vice president for interdisciplinary studies and the Idol Family Professor in the department of Black studies and the department of performing arts.

African American Fatalities at Work Declined in 2023

The number of Black Americans killed at work in 2022 was the highest number recorded since statistics on workplace fatalities have been collected. But in 2023, Black fatalities at work declined by more than 10 percent.

Steven Jones Appointed President of Mississippi Delta Community College

Dr. Jones has been serving as Mississippi Delta Community College's vice president of administrative and student services. He is slated to become the institution's 10th president on January 1.

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Georgia Southwestern State University Names a New Leader

Dr. Ross has focused his career on advancing nursing education through evidence-based practices and interdisciplinary collaboration. He currently serves as dean of nursing and chief nurse administrator at St. Paul's School of Nursing in New York.

Doctoral Program at Morgan State University Will Not Face Competition From Towson State

The Maryland Higher Education Commission has ruled that Towson University cannot create a doctorate in sustainability and environmental change as it is too similar to Morgan State University's doctorate in bioenvironmental science.

The 2024 Frederick Douglass Book Prize Has Been Awarded to Two Black Scholars

The 2024 Frederick Douglass Book Prize has been awarded to Marlene Daut, professor at Yale University, and Sara Johnson, professor at the University of California, San Diego.

Winston-Salem State University to Increase Campus Acreage by One-Third

Winston-Salem State University has acquired 42 acres of land that will be used to expand student housing and academic space. The new land increases the HBCU's footprint by one-third.

New Administrative Appointments for Three African Americans in Higher Education

The African Americans appointed to new administrative posts in higher education are Gregory Young at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dana Hector at Howard University, and Ashley Allen at Augustana College in Illinois.

Wiley University Establishes a New Partnership With a Community College in Anguilla

Students studying at Anguilla Community College on the Caribbean island of Anguilla now have the opportunity to pursue a bachelor's degree with historically Black Wiley University in Texas.

In Memoriam: Yvonne Jeffries Johnson, 1942-2024

A two-time HBCU graduate, Johnson was the first African American elected to the Greensboro City Council and the city's first-ever Black mayor. She was chair of the board of trustees at Bennett College for 10 years.

Recent Books of Interest to African American Scholars

The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. The books included are on a wide variety of subjects and present many different points of view.

Online Articles That May Be of Interest to JBHE Readers

Each week, JBHE will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week’s selections.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: James Solomon, Jr., 1930-2024

While teaching at Morris College, an HBCU in South Carolina, Solomon enrolled in the graduate program in mathematics at the University of South Carolina, making him one of the institution's first three Black students.

Street Named to Honor the First Black Football Player at the University of Memphis

Rogers walked-on to the football team at what was then Memphis State University in 1968, making him the institution's first Black football player. After graduating in 1972, he spent the next four decades as a coach and administrator with Memphis-area schools.

In Memoriam: Clyde Aveilhe, 1937-2024

Dr. Aveilhe held various student affairs and governmental affairs positions with Howard University, California State University, and the City University of New York.