Analysis Finds That Howard University Is the Only HBCU That Is Tapping the Bond...
According to data compiled by Pensions & Investments, Howard University is the only historically Black college or university to tap the bond market this year. Howard raised $147 million earlier this year and recently announced plans for more than $200 million in debt.
Meharry Medical College and the University of Pennsylvania to Launch New MD/Ph.D. Program
The joint MD/PhD program will further both institutions' efforts to bolster minority influence in healthcare and increase participation by members of underrepresented communities in health research. The program is expected to launch in 2021.
Howard University Teams Up With Columbia Uinversity to Explore the Issue of Reparations
The U.S. African American Redress Network aims to better understand how communities are addressing historic racial transgressions. It also expects to increase awareness of redress efforts across different regions and fields such as activism, academia, and policy-making.
Three HBCUs Annouce the Creation of New Centers for Racial Justice
In the wake of protests following the murder of George Floyd, several historically Black colleges and universities have established new academic centers focused on racial justice. New centers have been established at Shaw University in Raleigh, Dillard University in New Orleans, and the University of the District of Columbia.
Morehouse School of Medicine To Lead New Effort to Battle COVID-19 in Underserved Areas
The Morehouse School of Medicine will coordinate a strategic network of national, state, territorial, tribal, and local organizations to deliver COVID-19-related information to communities hardest hit by the pandemic.
Robert Smith Launches New Nonprofit That Aims to Ease Student Debt at HBCUs
Robert F. Smith, a billionaire who is CEO of Vista Equity Partners, a software and technology investment firm, has launched the Student Freedom Initiative, a nonprofit organization that will offer loans to STEM students at HBCUs at far lower rates and with easier repayment terms.
New Paid Internship Program in the Music Industry for HBCU Students
Students from Howard University, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Bennett College will be the first interns in a new program launched by ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
A Major Gift Seeks to Aid the Nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Patty Quillin, a philanthropist, and Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, have given $40 million each to the United Negro College Fund, Spelman College, and Morehouse College. This is the largest ever individual gift in support of student scholarships at historically Black colleges and universities.
Kentucky’s Two HBCUs Team Up to Fight Racial Inequality
The leaders of Simmons College of Kentucky and Kentucky State University, the only two historically Black educational institutions in the commonwealth, have announced new initiatives for increased financial, political, and moral investment in Black-led institutions that will be largely focused on the city of Louisville.
New Legislation Seeks to Boost ROTC Opportunities for HBCU Students
As a whole, African Americans make up 20 percent of all Air Force personnel. But only 1.7 percent of Air Force pilots are African Americans. Aspiring military aviators can significantly improve their career prospects with undergraduate pilot training, but ROTC scholarships do not cover flight training costs.
Five African Americans Who Are Assuming New Administrative Duties in Higher Education
Taking on new administrative posts are Marita Gilbert at Michigan State University, Dustin Fulton at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Valerie Fields at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, Anna Spain Bradley at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Cheldon Williams at West Virginia University.
Alabama State University Seeks to Change Names of Campus Buildings That Honor Racists
Confederate monuments are being taken down and colleges and universities are considering plans to remove the names of Confederate generals and supporters of slavery from campus buildings and facilities. This process also is taking place on the campuses of several HBCUs.
Texas Southern University Creates a National Police Reform Advisory Group of Scholars
The expert-laden advisory group put together by the Center for Justice Reform at Texas Southern University will help chart the national response for the sustainable improvement of police-community relations.
Accreditation Evaluation Team to Visit Bennett College in Late June
In February, Bennett College lost an appeal of a decision by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to revoke its accreditation. It filed a lawsuit and will retain its accreditation pending the result of the litigation. But now the college is seeking accreditation from another organization.
Prairie View A&M Will Take Steps to Further Education on Systemic Racism in America
Ruth J. Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University in Texas, issued a statement to the university community outlining her plans for the educational institution in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.
Report Finds That Texas Southern University Admitted Thousands of Unqualified Students
An independent report from the Berkeley Group, commissioned by the board of regents of Texas Southern University, found that the university admitted large numbers of students and doled out about $2 million in scholarships to students who did not meet the admissions requirements of the university.
Tuskegee University in Alabama Renews Focus on Career Development
The university in Alabama is now offering an intensive training program that will certify faculty members as Certified Career Services Providers. The credential prepares faculty and staff to better mentor students as they guide them in connecting academic and co-curricular opportunities with their professional goals.
Grambling State University Announces Five New Endowed Funds
The Louisiana Board of Regents recently approved five new endowment funds at historically Black Grambling State University that will benefit both students and faculty.
Howard University to Offer a Digital Technlogy Credential Program to Students in All Majors
A group of Howard University faculty developed a six-course curriculum for non-STEM majors, which would lead to a Digital Tech Generalist Credential to integrate digital technology skills into a higher education curriculum. Students who earn the credential would receive hiring preferences at local companies.
Alabama State University to Offer New Scholarships for Out-of-State Students
The President’s Promise Scholarships will award up to $8,300 per year to out-of-state students assist with tuition costs for the fall and spring semesters. In effect, the scholarships will allow out-of-state students to enroll at in-state tuition rates.
Morehouse College Deals With Budgetary Issues Brought About by the Pandemic
Morehouse College will implement a reduction in force, furloughs, and pay cuts as part of a cost-reduction plan to offset a budget deficit due to the COVID-19 the pandemic. The College has estimated a potential 25 percent decline in enrollment as a result of the pandemic.
Dozens of Nigerian Doctoral Students and PostDocs Will Be Coming to Morgan State University
The agreement with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, a funding agency of the Nigerian government, could bring up to 50 (no less than 30) new Ph.D. students and up to 20 postdoctoral researchers to the Morgan State campus each year. Morgan State hopes to welcome the first cohort of students from Nigeria this coming fall.
Alabama State University Partners With Gadsden State Community College in Alabama
Historically Black Alabama State University in Montgomery has signed an agreement with Gadsden State Community College in Alabama that will provide a pathway for qualified Gadsden State students to study and earn undergraduate degrees from Alabama State.
Two HBCUs in North Carolina Announce the Appointments of New Provosts
Lee Brown was named interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, and Josiah J. Sampson, III was appointed provost and vice president of academic affairs. at St. Augustine's University in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Another Setback for Paine College’s Battle to Retain Its Accreditation
Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, lost an appeal of a court ruling that upheld a decision by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to revoke its accreditation. But the college retains all rights to federal funds as a candidate for accreditation by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools.
Tennessee State University Pitches In to Help Families in Need Due to the Pandemic
Historically Black Tennessee State University in conjunction with Second Harvest Food Bank and One Generation Away, hosted a contact-free, mobile food pantry distribution outside the university's indoor athletic facility. More than 500 families were served.
Fayetteville State University to Expand Its Offerings in Theatre
The theatre department will now offer concentrations in media performance, media production, costuming/cosplay, and theatre education. The concentrations will allow theatre majors to extend their learning from the stage to the screen utilizing emerging technologies.
Maryland Governor Vetoes Bill That Would Have Provided $577 Million to the State’s HBCUs
In a letter to legislative leaders, Governor Larry Hogan wrote that the economic fallout from this pandemic simply makes it impossible to fund any new programs, impose any new tax hikes, nor adopt any legislation having any significant fiscal impact, regardless of the merit of the legislation."
Alabama A&M University Reports a Large Graduating Class of STEM Students
The College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences at historically Black Alabama A&M University, has announced that it graduated the largest class of students in the past decade.
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Announces a New Program in Nanoscience
Nanoscience is an interdisciplinary field that involves physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. The new program at the historically Black university will encompass core science courses in physics, chemistry, and math, with different focuses on nanoscience and technology.
Lincoln University in Missouri Facing Significant Drop in Enrollments
Lincoln University, the historically Black educational institution in Jefferson City, Missouri, is warning of steep enrollment declines this fall in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the upcoming fall semester, 510 students have enrolled so far — down 25 percent from last year's 676 at this time.
National Park Service Funds Historical Preservation Projects at HBCUs
Several of these projects will involve the restoration of buildings on the campuses of historically Black colleges and universities. Other grants will fund projects at HBCUs aimed at preserving the history of the civil rights movement.
Tuskegee University Donates Personal Protection Equipment to Healthcare Workers
With the campus closed to students, Tuskegee University leaders and faculty pulled together more than 500 N95 masks, surgical masks, face shields, bonnets, shoe coverings, gloves, goggles, and protective gowns from labs across campus for use by Prime Care Medical Center in Tuskegee.
South Carolina State University Adds a New Academic Program in Applied Exercise Science
The new program offers specialized courses to meet students' academic needs, including biomechanics, foundations of strength and conditioning, foundations of therapeutic exercise, and the applied exercise science senior practicum.
HBCUs Raise Money to Help Students In Need Due to the Pandemic
HBCUs have established emergency funds to raise money to help students cover unexpected housing, food, travel, and technology costs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Howard University Signs Agreement With the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
As part of the agreement, Howard University faculty will utilize CCDC assets to provide training and research opportunities to students in areas such as artificial intelligence, electronic devices, and unmanned machinery. They will also have access to defense laboratory equipment currently on loan to the university by CCDC.
