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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Claflin University Enters Into a Partnership With Zoom Video
Claflin University, a historically Black educational institution in Orangeburg, South Carolina, has announced it has entered into a partnership with Zoom Video that encompasses internships, scholarships and curricula development.
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.
North Carolina A&T State University to Offer a Master’s Degree in Health Psychology
The first students are expected to enroll in the program in the fall of 2021. The new degree program will have an initial cohort of about 15 students with plans to grow enrollment to an average of 35 to 45 students over the next few years.
Delaware State University Announces Plan to Acquire Wesley College
Delaware State University has announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. According to Delaware State, no historically Black college or university has ever before acquired a non-HBCU educational institution. The acquisition is expected to be completed by June 30, 2021.
Edward Waters College Aims to Transition to University Status
New state funding has emboldened the institution to add new bachelor's degree programs and it first master's degree program. The goal for the college is ultimately to become a university with the creation of its first graduate-level program, a master’s degree in business administration.
Fort Valley State University Debuts Two New Degree Programs in School Counselor Education
The master's degree program in school counselor education online launched this summer. The next cohort will begin in the summer of 2021. An educational specialist degree program with a major in school counselor education will be offered online this fall.
Apple Boosts Its Partnership With the HBCU Community
Launched last year, Appleʼs Community Education Initiative now extends to 24 locations across the United States — 12 of which are HBCUs and 21 of which predominately serve majority Black and Brown students.
Albany State University Enters Partnership With Columbus Technical College
Columbus Technical College students who have completed their associate degree in nursing will be able to transfer seamlessly to the bachelor's degree in nursing program at Albany State University. The agreement also will provide for transfers for students in 20 or more business-related degree programs.
Tougaloo College Students Get New Opportunity for Careers in Public Health
Leaders from the Brown University School of Public Health and Tougaloo College, a historically black college in Mississippi, are joining forces on a new initiative to make the next generation of public health professionals more reflective of America’s increasingly diverse population.
Howard University to Digitally Preserve Archives of Black Dance
The material in the collection includes panel discussions, lectures, master classes, demonstrations, and performances that showcase the work of regional, national and international companies, and provides an inclusive depiction of the rich legacy of the Black dance experience.
