HBCUs

For the nineteenth consecutive year, U.S. News and World Report has named Spelman College in Atlanta the best HBCU in the country. Howard University was second, Morehouse College was third, Tuskegee University was fourth, and Florida A&M University was fifth. These five institutions have topped the magazine's annual list for three years in a row.

Achieving this milestone means Morgan State's bachelor's degree in elementary education meets the International Dyslexia Association's standards for effectively preparing teachers to support structured literacy, prevent reading failure, and provide effective interventions for students with dyslexia and other reading-related challenges.

In October, the Valiant Cross Academy Elementary School will open at the Alabama State University Zelia Stephens Early Childhood Center. Leaders from the all-boys private school and the HBCU also plan to develop pathways for VCA high school students to attend ASU after graduation.

Dr. Paul Biney of Prairie View A&M University in Texas was recently honored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for his outstanding work in advancing mechanical engineering education. He recently retired from the HBCU after four decades of service.

“This isn’t just about football,” said Wilberforce University President Vann Newkirk. “It’s about reclaiming a legacy, energizing our campus, and showing the world that Wilberforce is ready to lead again — on and off the field.”

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.

Enrollments are down at many colleges and universities across the United States. But many historically Black colleges and universities have reported significant increases and some have achieved a record number of enrolled students.

The film, Opportunity, Access, & Uplift: The Evolving Legacy of HBCUs, focuses on students at Delaware State University and Dillard University, showcasing their experiences of campus life and providing insights into HBCU history.

“This collaboration connects classroom learning with hands-on technology evaluation in the Cornell Agriculture System Testbed and Demonstration Site's farm environments,” said Dr. Shahidul Islam, a professor at historically Black University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. “Together, UAPB and Cornell are building pathways for students and producers to engage with cutting-edge agricultural research.”

The new agreement will provide Tennessee State University students studying human performance and sports science with hands-on training opportunities in athletic training and sports medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

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.

Through a new partnership with Western University of Health Sciences, students at historically Black Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles now have access to a streamlined admissions process into WesternU's doctor of podiatric medicine degree program.

Dr. Richardson was president of Morgan State University in Baltimore from 1984 to 2010. He led the university through a period of significant growth, while advocating for HBCU education and criticizing the state of Maryland's historic underfunding of its four HBCUs.

Eloise Abernathy Alexis and Cassandra Griggs are taking on new leadership roles in institutional advancement. Natasha Johnson will serve as chief human resources officer.

McNeil was a member of the A&T Four - a group of four students at North Carolina A&T State University who organized a sit-in protest at a local lunch counter. The movement lasted for more than five months, ultimately leading to the store's desegregation.

“These terroristic threats, designed to intimidate and foment hatred against everyday Americans — in this case, Black institutions of higher learning — cannot go unchallenged and must not be swept aside. Black students and HBCU communities deserve to be protected,” writes Yvette D. Clarke, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

In August, eight board members of Florida Memorial University claimed they were excluded from the decision to appoint interim president William C. McCormick as the university's permanent leader. Now, a judge has tossed out the group's lawsuit, finding “Mr. McCormick's actions as full-time president, as opposed to interim president, of FMU pose no threat to irreparable injury.”

Founded by Asya Johnson, HBCU Early College Prep is a new tuition-free public high school in Queens, New York. Through partnership with Johnson's alma mater, Delaware State University, students at the new prep school will take college-level classes, allowing them to graduate with both their high school diplomas and an associate's degree. Upon graduation, students are guaranteed admission to DSU.

“By investing in neuroscience research at HBCUs, Black In Neuro wants to ensure that Black neuroscientists will always have a seat at the table as leaders, innovators, and game changers in the field,” writes Jheannelle Johnson, development director for the global nonprofit organization, Black in Neuro.

“This is not just an academic milestone; it is a pivotal moment for our community and the future of public health,” said Dr. Mohamed Kanu, interim dean of the College of Health Sciences at Tennessee State University.