Howard University has released a statement following education secretary Betsy DeVos’ visit to campus on Thursday. It was her first meeting in her new gig, many Howard students are skeptical.
President Wayne A.I. Frederick announced that he is “pleased” that the new education secretary visited the black university, saying Howard has had a “successful relationship with the Department of Education” over the years. He also welcomed “the opportunity to continue discussing” ways both can work together to continue to help HBCU across the country.
“Howard University is pleased that Betsy Devos, the new Secretary of Education, chose to visit our institution as her first official campus visit. We have a longstanding, successful relationship with the Department of Education and I look forward to advancing this relationship under the Secretary’s leadership. Our conversation today was a very meaningful one and I welcome the opportunity to continue discussing the many ways we can work together to forward the work of higher education, specifically that of Howard University, Howard University Middle School of Mathematics & Science, and HBCUs in general.”
The Hilltop, the student newspaper at Howard University, noted that they were not given details of the meeting either, commenting that no further details have yet been released on what was discuss during the private meeting. Student Government Association president Allyson Carpenter, who was not present at the meeting, told The Washington Post that “Howard is the mecca,” adding, “a university known for its academic excellence. I know this administration has a knack for—how can I say this—taking pictures with the right people, I guess.”
