The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) recently released a new report on the awareness of historically Black colleges and universities among public school teachers, counselors, and students in communities outside of the American South.
For their study, the authors surveyed a sample of students, teachers, and counselors across high schools in the Northeast, Midwest, and Western United States. Two-thirds of teachers and 60 percent of counselors included in the survey were somewhat, very, or extremely familiar with HBCUs. However, 61 percent of all students – and about half of Black students – said they were not at all or only slightly familiar with HBCUs.
Furthermore, when asked how often their counselors suggested attending an HBCU, over half of students said this never or rarely occurred. The majority of students also said their school counselor never or rarely provided resources on attending an HBCU. Notably, only 36 percent of students said they often or always discuss any kind of college options with their counselors.
The study also examined teachers and counselors’ awareness of data regarding racial and ethnic minority gaps in achievement, opportunity, and attainment at their school. Teachers who engage in intentional data review to identify said gaps and promote policies leading to fair and equitable treatment of all students were more likely to say they promote rigorous courses and higher education among students of color.
Based on these findings, the authors recommend that high schools, school districts, and charter management organizations should increase student exposure to scholarship and financial aid opportunities at HBCUs, provide training for teachers to review data on racial achievement gaps, and engage school staff in anti-bias training. The study authors also encourage HBCUs to share their financial aid, scholarship, and academic resources directly with high schools and support schools with anti-bias trainings.
As a retired high school counselor of color, 30 years experience (‘82-‘12), in one of the most progressive school systems in the US, there are accuracy gaps in the assessments and results presented, especially in regard to student feedback. During the 80s/90s, there were African-American parents who claimed to be insulted if counselors recommended HBCUs, rather than majority institutions, especially for high performing students. In many cases, SES was a factor. Complaints were shared with administrators. The students were being highly recruited by the majority schools and the counselors were only offering options, as would be expected. There WERE parents of color who felt it was more socially acceptable to say their senior applied, was accepted, and would be matriculating to a majority institution than an HBCU, and it still exists. So, please be fair presenting the issue and refrain from making school counselors and teachers scapegoats. There are college fairs available, F2F and virtual/online, for interaction with students and parents, as well as college staff. Colleges (majority and HBCU) have been visiting high school campuses for DECADES as ambassadors for information. Parents and students also need to be engaged in the process. As a professor of color, at an HBCU, once told his class,”You can bring the horse to the water, but you can’t make him drink.”