Fort Valley State University Joins the Peace Corps Prep Program
The Peace Crops Prep Program is designed to train students who are interested in working abroad in international development work. Fort Valley State is the 39th educational institution nationwide to join the effort.
HBCUs With the Highest Percentage of Graduates Who Make Donations
At Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina an average of 48.9 percent of alumni donated to their alma mater each year during the 2012-to-2014 period. The next highest HBCU alumni giving rate of 38.2 percent was at Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina.
New Scholarship for Students From The Bahamas to Attend Central State University
Ten students from the Bahamas will receive four-year scholarships to attend Central State University each year for the next four years. The scholarships, for students from public schools in the Bahamas, will be financed primarily through the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in The Bahamas.
Alabama State University Partners With a Nigerian Educational Institution
Alabama State University, the historically Black education institution in Montgomery has signed a partnership agreement with Adekunie Ajasin University in Nigeria. The agreement calls for both student and faculty exchanges between the two universities.
Paine College Announces Plan to Deal With Budget Shortfall
Earlier this month, Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, announced that it was unable to pay its faculty and employees as scheduled. But employees did receive their paychecks within a week. Now the college has announced a new emergency fundraising effort and plans to trim its expenses.
Wilberforce University Receives Good News From Its Accreditor
In June 2014, Wilberforce University was issued a "show-cause order" by its accrediting agency that required the HBCU to present its case as to why its accreditation should not be withdrawn. That order has now been lifted.
Proposed Methane Plant Near the Campus of Simmons College Prompts Protests
An energy company initially had pledged to transfer ownership of an old distillery building and four acres of land to Simmons College as part of the deal to win approval of the project from the city of Louisville. The college had planned to convert the abandoned building into student housing.
Florida A&M University Partners in a Technology Commercialization Accelerator Program
The program invites faculty inventors to form a team of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and a mentor from the business community to participate in a seven-week exercise to determine if a particular invention is marketable.
Tennessee State University’s New Plan to Beef Up Campus Security
Last month, three students were shot at Tennessee State University as a result of a dispute during a dice game. One person died in the incident. President Glenda Glover has quickly responded with a new 10-point safety enhancement plan for the Nashville campus.
Cheyney University Supporters Hold Rally at State Capitol in Harrisburg Seeking Help
Hundreds of students, alumni, and supporters of Cheney University of Pennsylvania held a rally in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg calling on legislators to do much more to help the struggling historically Black university.
Florida A&M University Takes Over 3,800-Acre Federal Facility
Florida A&M University has received the title for a 3,800-acre tract of land and 19 buildings that made up the former Subtropical Agricultural and Research Station in Brooksville, Florida.
Hampton University Forms Partnership for Science Research With Brandeis University
The Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) will include a 10-week summer program for Hampton undergraduate students. These students will participate in research projects with scientists at Brandeis.
Albany State University to “Deactivate” 10 Academic Programs
According to a university statement, "deactivate" means that programs are temporarily suspended from admitting new students for up to two years. Students currently enrolled in these programs will be able to complete their degrees.
Paine College Fails to Meet Payroll
In a major blow to the Paine college's effort to demonstrate financial stability to its accrediting agency, the college has announced that it was unable to meet its most recent payroll commitment.
Wilberforce University Enters Partnership With Ohio State University for Research Training
The "Buckeye Connection at Wilberforce" will offer research training internship opportunities in higher education studies at Ohio State University for undergraduate students at historically Black Wilberforce University.
Howard University May Auction Off Its Public Television Station
Howard University in Washington, D.C., has been operating a public television station for the past 35 years. Now the university is considering auctioning off the channel in order to improve its financial position.
Albany State University Fires Four Employees of it Financial Aid Office
After an audit by the University System of Georgia found "serious misconduct" four employees were fired. According to a report in the Albany Herald, one employee of the university had received $270,000 in financial aid funds going back to 1985.
A Plague of Gun Violence on College Campuses
There have been a rash of shooting incidents on college campuses across the nation. HBCUs have not been immune to this gun violence. But some are already taking action.
Virginia State University to Help South African Province on Farming Infrastructure
Under the agreement faculty members at Virginia State University will work with officials in the South Africa to address a "deteriorating farming infrastructure" in the Eastern Cape Province.
Kentucky State University Sees a Decline in Enrollments But a Rise in Its Retention...
There are 165 second-year students on campus this year who matriculated last fall. This is 60.2 percent of last year's entering class of 274 students. A year ago the retention rate was 43.7 percent.
The Extreme Science Scholars at Morgan State University
The Army Research Laboratory has expanded its effort to increase the number of minority students in STEM fields by creating the Extreme Science Scholar program at Morgan State University in Baltimore.
A Haunting Photographic Essay on Morris Brown College
The University of Georgia Press has published a striking new book chronicling the troubles of historically Black Morris Brown College in Atlanta.
New Accelerated Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology at Howard University
Students will need at least a 3.5 grade point average in order to apply to the program. Students can complete both preprofessional undergraduate and a master's degree in speech-language pathology in five years.
The HBCU Challenge Looks to Collect Books for Prison Libraries
Grambling State University in Louisiana, has issued the HBCU Challenge to other historically Black college and universities to conduct book drives for prisons in their states.
Savannah State University Partners in a Dual-Degree Program in Forensic Genetics
Students who complete the five-year program will receive a bachelor's degree in forensic science from Savannah State University and a master's degree in forensic genetics from the University of North Texas.
Interim President Says Fisk University Still Faces “Tremendous Challenges”
Despite a $30 million cash infusion from an agreement sharing its art collection, Fisk University still faces a challenging financial outlook, according to it new interim president Frank L. Sims.
New Online Fundraising Site Aims to Raise $105 Million for HBCUs
Former basketball superstar Tracy McGrady provided $105,000 in seed money to develop the software and a website that allows real-time donations and pledges from 150 million smartphone users in the United States.
Alabama A&M University Refinances Its Debt
A new package deal with the U.S. Department of Education will refinance $65 million in debt, saving the university $400,000 annually. Also the university will receive a new $30 million loan for capital projects on campus.
Southern University’s Slave Narrative Archives Are Now Available Online
The archives are a series of letters and documents of interviews with slaves that focus on the thoughts of slaves about slave owners, abuse, clothing, religious life, superstitions and religion in their communities.
Jackson State University Takes Its Marketing Efforts Nationwide
After three straight years of record enrollments, Jackson State University in Mississippi is extending its marketing outreach by showing a television commercial on national cable networks. The commercial will be featured on MTV, VH1, BET, and other cable outlets.
Johnson C. Smith University Adds New Degree Programs
The historically Black universities in Charlotte, North Carolina, has added two new online degree programs in business administration and sports management. Also, a new on-campus major in dance is being offered.
A Change in Leadership at Fisk University in Nashville
H. James Williams has resigned as president of the university after less than three years on the job. Frank L. Sims, a member of the board of trustees who was an executive at Cargill Inc., has been named interim president.
More Good News in Enrollments at Several HBCUs
Last week a JBHE post reported some good news on enrollments at several historically Black colleges and universities. Since that time, several other HBCUs have also reported some good news on enrollments.
Oral History Interviews of 1960s Graduates of Alcorn State University Are Now Available
The oral history interviews were conducted in 2015 with 13 individuals who graduated from the university between 1960 and 1969. The topics discussed are academic and residence life, athletics, and the students participation in the civil rights movement.
A New Male Student Mentoring Program at Saint Augustine’s University
The Male Mentoring Program, designed to improve the retention and graduation rates of male students, is under the direction of Paul Norman, dean of first-year experience at the university.
Good News! Enrollments Are Up at Some HBCUs
While some historically Black colleges and universities have seen significant enrollment declines in recent years, there has been good news on enrollments at many of the nation's HBCUs.
