The Center for Minority Serving Institutions at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania has released a new report comparing the status and performance of African Americans at public universities in the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and North Carolina.
The report analyzes enrollments of Black students at historically Black colleges and universities and also at predominantly White public universities in each state.
The study also takes a detailed look at the funding provided to public colleges universities in each state as well as appropriations by the federal government to HBCUs in each state. Also, the study examines the growth of graduate programs at HBCUs and degree attainments by African Americans in each state.
The report concludes by making five recommendations for state governments and five recommendations for HBCUs. For state governments, the authors recommend:
- State governments should explore alternatives to enrollment-driven funding mechanisms.
- State governments must recognize the efficacy and relevance of HBCUs.
- States should assess program duplication carefully.
- States must support HBCUs in developing their fundraising capacity.
- State governments should foster partnerships between HBCUs and predominantly White institutions.
The recommendations for HBCUs are as follows:
- HBCUs would benefit by strengthening their fundraising capacity.
- HBCUs should devise creative and effective marketing and public relations campaigns.
- HBCUs should continue to apply for federal support for research.
- HBCUs would benefit from further embracing diversity.
- HBCUs should seek partnerships with other HBCUs and predominantly White institutions.
The report, America’s Public HBCUs: A Four-State Comparison of Institutional Capacity and State Funding Priorities, may be downloaded by clicking here.
