Kamala Harris Pledges To Forgive Student-Loan Debt For HBCU Graduates

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Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris promised Thursday that a Biden-Harris administration would make college tuition free at public schools and private historically Black colleges and universities for students whose families’ income is below $125,000 a year, and pledged student-loan debt forgiveness for some graduates of HBCUs.

“In relation to the history of HBCUs, [students] decide to take on a profession of service, which often does not pay as well as if they go into the private sector and do other things,” Harris said at a roundtable discussion held at Florida Memorial University, a historically Black private university. “So for those students who come out and have jobs that pay less than $125,000, student-loan debt will also be forgiven.”

Harris also promised to invest $70 billion in historically Black colleges and universities. 

Additionally, she said that two-year college programs would be free for low-income Americans. 

“We want to support our young people for whatever they pursue by way of education after high school,” Harris said. “For some that will be a college and university, for some it will be a two-year program, or an apprenticeship, or something of that nature, and we want to make sure that we support them in that quest.”

Harris made the remarks in response to Jaffus Hardrick, president of Florida Memorial University, who said that “we are literally working on a shoestring budget” amid the economic decline caused by the pandemic that has forced many students to reconsider attending college. 

During her short-lived presidential campaign, Harris proposed making community college free.

Her remarks came in the key swing state of Florida, where 29 electoral votes are up for grabs, the most among any of the major swing states. Former President Barack Obama claimed the state by a thin margin in the 2008 and 2012 elections. President Donald Trump, however, won it in the 2016 election. 

In a RealClearPolitics moving average of polls focused on top swing states that are likely to decide the election, Democrat Joe Biden had an edge of 3.9 percentage points over Trump as of Thursday, but his edge in Florida was just 1.2 points.

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Peyton Manning Foundation Endows Scholarships At 6 HBCUs

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Peyton Manning‘s Peyback Foundation has endowed six scholarships at four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Louisiana and two in Tennessee, according to a report Sunday from ESPN. Manning’s Peyback Foundation was founded in 1999 by Peyton and his wife, Ashley.

Here are the HBCUs listed as recipients:

  • Grambling State University
  • Southern University
  • Tennessee State
  • Fisk University
  • Xavier University of Louisiana
  • Dillard University

Doug Williams, the first black NFL quarterback to win a Super Bowl, has his name attached to the Grambling scholarship at request of the Peyback Foundation, according to Mortensen’s report. Williams endured some painful blindside hits as an NFL quarterback, but he embraced a recent one when he was informed that a certain foundation had endowed a scholarship in his name at his alma mater, Grambling State University.

“When I asked who did this, I was told the donor wished it to be anonymous,” said Williams, a senior vice president for the Washington Football Team.

“Ha, you know I have my connections at Grambling. I made a phone call and found out it was Peyton Manning’s foundation and it was endowing a half-dozen scholarships at historically Black colleges and universities [HBCUs]. Peyton is a Louisiana boy. I know he’s given to a lot of wonderful causes without publicity, but this was a most pleasant surprise for me.”

Harold Carmichael, an NFL Hall of Famer who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, will be named on the Southern scholarship. Wilma Rudolph, the decorated Olympic sprinter, will have her name on the scholarship at Tennessee State.

Manning declined to discuss the scholarship endowments when contacted by ESPN, with his foundation instead issuing a statement:

“The Peyback Foundation is honored to partner with these six colleges to honor distinguished Alumni and staff members, and to help college students at these schools now and many years to come. Really, for perpetuity.”

Apparently, Tory Lanez Sent A Text Apologizing To HBCU Student Meg Thee Stallion Right After The Shooting

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Tory Lanez, reportedly apologized to the black college student while she was recovering in the hospital, but he failed to be accountable for his actions given Meg naming him as her shooter.

“I know you prolly never gone talk to me again, but I genuinely want u to know I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart. I was just drunk.”

These are the words of Tory Lanez, the man allegedly behind the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. Meg, who attends historically black Texas Southern University, could be seen walking with a limp at the incident and tracking bloody footprints when asked by police on the scene to put her hands up followed by her getting on the ground only seconds later.

“None the less sh*t should have never happened and I can’t change what I did,” said Tory, asking for Meg to forgive him via text for his part in the incident while she was in the hospital recovering, but not owning up to exactly whatever he did. “I just feel horrible. Cuz I genuinely just got too drunk.”

The murky event didn’t fail to shock many people in the Hip Hop community.

TMZ originally broke the news, reporting that though Tory didn’t really admit guilt in this particular situation between the two, the rapper has not gone public about the matter. On the other hand, it seems like Meg is really more mature, taking full responsibility for her own part in this incident, even remaining relatively silent on the matter until enough was enough.

Going live on Instagram in late July, Meg broke her silence admitting that Tory was the one who pulled the trigger and shot her on both of her feet. “I’m not going to let y’all keep playing in my face, and I’m not going to let this n*gga keep playing in my face either,” Meg said at the time during a session on IG live.

She continued, “Since y’all h*es so worried about it, yes that n*gga Tory shot me. You shot me! Of course, The Shade Room never misses a step. Check out this video below: 

According to The Shade Room, it is not specified whether or not he got a response.

Woodard Sisters Bria & Cimone Commit To Howard University Over Texas A&M

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Howard University lands six-foot-three twins Bria Woodard and Cimone Woodard who once verbally committed to Texas A&M University. The two future Howard students will become become fifth-generation Historically Black College and University (HBCU) graduates.

Cimone, an MB, said that, although they would play volleyball in college, they had to take the sport out of the equation for this decision because playing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), in one of the “Power 5” conferences, was “really glamorous.” Bria, an OH, acknowledged that you can’t have both. You can’t attend an HBCU and play for a program in the Power 5. 

“We had to recognize that and decide what we wanted more,” said Bria.

“At first when we went through the recruiting process, we wanted a big conference and a big school. We had to take a step back and see that we can still play at a great school [at Howard] and make more of a decision that is culturally-based. At Howard, we get the best of both worlds – excellent academics and athletics.”

Edward Waters College Announces Highest Institutional Enrollment In Over A Decade

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Despite the challenges and uncertainties presented by the international COVID-19 pandemic over the past six months, as of the close of its registration period Edward Waters College’s (EWC) Fall 2020 enrollment has grown to 968 total students which represents a nearly 4% overall enrollment increase from Fall 2019 and ties the highest headcount enrollment the College has seen in over fifteen years.

“As a Christian and African-Methodist Episcopal (AME) faith-based institution, we earnestly believe that our steps are ordered by God and that every good gift comes from the Lord,” said Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr., EWC President & CEO. “We are especially grateful for our students and their families who made Edward Waters College their higher educational institution of choice. In the midst of this incredibly calamitous pandemic our committed senior administrative and enrollment management team, staff, and faculty worked diligently in redoubling their supportive efforts and they along with our donors and friends truly provided us with the difference-making support needed for us to experience this extremely positive enrollment outcome for EWC.”

Strengthened in part by its new hashtag themed student support initiative titled, “#WeGotYou,” which was primarily aimed at increasing student retention and promoting student persistence this fall, EWC was able to buttress its overall enrollment by providing a total of 400 students with nearly $2 million dollars in additional financial support towards satisfying their Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semester charges which included tuition and fees, room and board, and activity fees. Relatedly, in 2019 97% of EWC’s students received some form of financial aid with 88% of the College’s student body being Federal Pell Grant recipients which are federally slated to assist low-resource and low-income students. As such, the additional financial support provided by EWC to its students was essential in the College’s overall enrollment growth efforts.

“During this pandemic we knew we had to engage with our current and potential new students in a very different way if we hoped to achieve enrollment growth,” said Dr. Jennifer Price, Vice President for Enrollment Management & Strategic Matriculant Services.

“As a result, we took very deliberate actions to enhance our customer service, communications, and enrollment strategies, and better adapt them to a virtual format,” Dr. Price said. “Overall, this really allowed us to move our students through the enrollment process much more effectively and efficiently. It was truly an “all hands-on-deck” effort from all of the college’s units and departments.”

Towards that end, the College experienced a banner year in its recruitment of new EWC students with over 400 new students enrolled at the institution for the fall semester while simultaneously making significant progress towards supporting the persistence of returning students as the College retained 82.6% of its eligible returning students.

Relatedly, the College’s innovative new partnership with Follett Higher Education Group which provided every first-time in college full-time new EWC student with their own new Chromebook laptop computer was essential in the institution’s recruitment efforts especially as it sought to comprehensively facilitate the implementation of heightened virtual and distance student learning in the current COVID-19 environment.

In addition, as part of its COVID-19 reopening plan, the College placed a strong emphasis on encouraging its new students to enroll and attend classes via on-line and face-to-face/hybrid instruction modality platforms as the College continues to observe and facilitate physical and social distancing campus wide to curb the spread of the virus.

Accordingly, all on campus housing at EWC has been reduced by 50% in an effort to achieve a single-room occupancy only environment for students residing in on-campus residence facilities. Lastly, the College continues to require all students, faculty, staff, and visitors to wear face masks at all times while physically present on the campus and the institution remains fully adherent to all CDC guidelines and recommendations with regard to COVID-19 prevention and response protocols as outlined in its comprehensive resumption of on-campus operations plan for students, faculty, staff which can be found on our EWC COVID-19 Response Center website at https://www.ewc.edu/covid/.

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Janelle Monáe Is Starring In ANTEBELLUM, A Scary Thriller Blending The Present And Past

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ANTEBELLUM is the highly-anticipated thriller from Lionsgate that will have you questioning everything. Starring Janelle Monáe, ANTEBELLUM is a chilling blend of our hopeful future and haunting past.

If you were moved by the mind-bending stories captured in recent blockbusters GET OUT and Us, then you’ll love ANTEBELLUM. Known for their work in social justice, writer and director duo Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz, otherwise known as Bush + Renz, made sure viewers would stay on the edge of their seat. In fact, among others, they teamed up with the producer of GET OUT, QC Entertainment, to add Antebellum to the latest string of satirical horror films targeting social inequalities. 

ANTEBELLUM draws several parallels to GET OUT in particular, with themes like racism, classism, and kidnapping at the forefront. With Americans currently fighting to confront systemic racism, politics, and violence in initiatives all over the country, this film resonates more than ever.

In ANTEBELLUM, Janelle Monáe’s character Veronica Henley seems to be a woman who has it all. She is a successful author, who somehow gracefully makes the time to keep up with both her girlfriends and picture-perfect family. Unexpectedly, she is snatched from it all. Somehow, she has been chosen.

In the events that happen next, Janelle becomes someone even the audience wouldn’t recognize. She finds herself not in the city, where she was just wingin and dining with her girlfriends, but among slaves on a plantation. The trailer captures visuals of cotton fields, confederate soldiers, and civil unrest. She must escape and she’s running out of time, trapped in a horrifying reality and must uncover the mind-bending mystery before it’s too late.

Buckle up for ANTEBELLUM, which premieres at home on demand on Friday September 18, 2020.

Alumni Back To School Campaign Helps Texas Southern Students In Need

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HOUSTON (September 10, 2020) – Like many students across the nation, Texas Southern University students are facing an array of challenges from COVID-19, especially financially. Summer employment opportunities have been disrupted, families have lost employment and sources of income, and the ability to cover basic living expenses has been challenging.  

The 2020 Alumni Back to School Campaign hopes to provide some relief to those students desperately in need. Alumni across the nation are stepping up to the plate to donate to the campaign, which will go a long way in helping with tuition, books and COVID-19 related expenses for students. 

“We must continue to do everything we can to assist our students in their quest for a TSU degree.  We are facing situations and obstacles new to us—our way of living has been challenged. One thing is constant—eager students are returning to school and need help from alumni,” said Melinda Spaulding, Vice President of University Advancement. 

Connie Cochran, Assistant Vice President of Alumni Relations added: “Our TSU alumni family always step up to the plate to support TSU students determined to continue their education. I am thrilled to see our esteemed alumni once again showing their Tiger Pride.”  

“As a consistent donor it is exciting for me to give back. I give back because I know first-hand my donation is impacting the lives of our TSU students,” Carl Jenkins, TSUNAA Give Back Committee Chairman.  

It’s not too late to give to the Back to School Campaign. Join other alumni who are leaving a lasting legacy by investing in our students. Give your best gift and encourage others who can give. As alumni it is not only our duty, but also our responsibility to give back. Students like Matildah Omenya say those gifts make a world of difference.  “Your generosity to help others has inspired me to help others to give back to the community. I am grateful for the opportunity to achieve my goals,” said Omenya. 

Give NOW at https://bit.ly/2YMEIep. 

ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. TSU’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues, and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of more than 9,700 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college.

Benedict College Receives Financial And Infrastructure Support From The SC INBRE

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) has awarded $18.9 million for the renewal of the South Carolina IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (SC INBRE) to support biomedical research and infrastructure in South Carolina. The grant will fund the program for five years beginning September 1, 2020 and is the fourth consecutive renewal of SC INBRE. 

“We are immensely proud to be a new member, particularly as a Predominantly Undergraduate Institution and the only HBCU in the SC INBRE IV (2020-2025) cohort,” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. “I applaud Dr. Samir Raychoudhury, the Institutional PI and his team, for advancing biomedical research at Benedict College.”

With this renewal, the SC INBRE Program grows to a statewide network of 14 member institutions, two outreach institutions and two alumni institutions. Member and outreach/alumni institutions incorporate South Carolina’s three Comprehensive Research Universities (CRUs) and 15 of the state’s Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), including three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). SC INBRE is administered at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia (UofSC SOMC). “Our mission is to provide high-quality biomedical research mentoring to our undergraduate students who are interested in graduate or professional studies in biomedical sciences,” noted Dr. Samir Raychoudhury, Professor of Biology in the Benedict College Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Health Science. “We plan to use the funding to make upgrades to our existing Animal Care facility. The proposed renovation will keep the facility in compliance with the USDA and NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). Our facility is the only HBCU in the state with USDA certification and OLAW assurance.”

Other SC INBRE member institutions include CRUs: Clemson University and Medical University of South Carolina, as well as PUIs: Benedict College (new in this INBRE renewal, HBCU), Coastal Carolina University, College of Charleston, Columbia College (new in this INBRE renewal), Converse College, Francis Marion University, Furman University, Presbyterian College, University of South Carolina Aiken, University of South Carolina Upstate (new in this INBRE renewal), and Winthrop University. Graduating as members from SC INBRE, but remaining a part of the network as alumni institutions, are Claflin University (HBCU) and South Carolina State University (HBCU). The two Outreach Institutions in the network are Anderson University and The Citadel (new to this INBRE renewal). 

“We are excited to continue the mission of enhancing biomedical research throughout South Carolina,” said Dr. Edie Goldsmith, UofSC SOMC professor of Cell Biology & Anatomy and SC INBRE Program Director. “This renewal will allow us to continue to train students, support faculty research and provide additional support for infrastructure and education/pipeline development. This is the largest our network has been in our almost 20- year history. We are proud of our previous accomplishments and are looking forward to having an even greater impact on the state’s biomedical and biosciences community.” 

“SC INBRE had a huge impact on biomedical research in South Carolina during INBRE Cycle III (2015-2020). At the time we submitted our renewal in Spring of 2019, our data from the first four years of INBRE III showed that from 2015-2019, 415 students were trained in biomedical research labs in the SC INBRE network,” continued Goldsmith. “For the students who completed their undergraduate education in INBRE Cycle III, 44% enrolled in graduate school, 17% went to medical/health professional school, and 39% obtained a job in industry. SC INBRE faculty and students produced over 100 publications and gave over 600 presentations. Their work led to over $9 million dollars in extramural funding from a variety of federal and non-federal sources. Fostering inter-institutional collaborations and promoting a research culture at PUIs, SC INBRE contributed to a collaborative NIH U54 award which brought in $12.5 million in research dollars to South Carolina.” 

With this renewal, SC INBRE will expand training capacity at five PUIs through renovation of existing space/facilities. Career and professional development activities will be provided to SC INBRE faculty and students, as well as opportunities to network and develop collaborations with SC INBRE colleagues. Bringing together colleges and universities from across South Carolina, over the next five years SC INBRE will continue to advance biomedical research by addressing the need for increased understanding of, and treatment options for, many human diseases while training the next generation of biomedical scientists. SC INBRE will continue to create research training opportunities for undergraduate students at institutions across South Carolina and promote increased diversity in the biomedical workforce. Concluded Goldsmith, “With the changing demographics in our state and country, engaging a diverse undergraduate student population in biomedical research through the SC INBRE program will ensure a well-educated workforce of physicians, scientists, healthcare providers and other professionals prepared to address the current and future health care problems in America.” 

Howard University Alum Kamala Harris Visits Jacob Blake’s Family In Milwaukee During Campaign Stop

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It seems like Senator and Democratic Vice President nominee Kamala Harris took time out of her busy schedule to visit the family of Jacob Blake recently during her campaign stop in Milwaukee, according to our partners at Black Enterprise.

The Howard University graduate said that she and the rest of the Biden 2020 team wanted to express their concern for Blake, adding that her wish was to ensure the Blake family that they do have support from them:

According to pool reports, Harris made several trips around the city but first visited with Blake’s family. Blake was shot in the back eight times by Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer Rusten Sheskey last month. Harris spoke to Blake by phone and met with Blake’s father and sister along with other family members.

The meeting was not on Harris’ schedule and reporters did not know about the meeting until after it concluded.

“They’re an incredible family and what they’ve endured and they do it with such dignity and grace,” Harris said after the meeting, according to Madison 365. “And you know, they’re carrying the weight of a lot of voices on their shoulders.” She added that the message to the family from the campaign was “just to, one, to express concern for their well-being and of course, for their brother and their son’s well being and to let them know that they have support.”

Harris also toured an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers training facility and held a round-table discussion with Black business owners. The discussion included Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, real estate investor Que-El Amin, Sherman Phoenix co-founder Joanne Sabir, and members of the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention.

“Today, of course, is Labor Day,” Harris said after the discussion. “And so part of the work that we’ve been doing today is to honor the men and women of labor, including — and we talked about this — the pride that Milwaukee and so many of us have in organized labor, and the Lieutenant Governor talked about that. What we must do to always support the working man and woman to be able to [have] collective thinking and collective bargaining and have all the wages and benefits that come with a hard day’s work. And the acknowledgment of the dignity of work.”

Harris also greeted fans and supporters outside the meeting, several of whom wore pink and green, the colors of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, of which Harris is a member.

Head over to Black Enterprise to read more.

Central State University Extends Deadline For Scholarship Applications For Students Majoring In Agriculture And Related Fields

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WILBERFORCE, OH. – Thanks to the USDA-NIFA, Central State University,Ohio’s only 1890 Land-GrantInstitution,recently received $2.2 million in scholarships for Ohio students who choose to major in agriculture and related fields at Central State University. Funds for the scholarship came from the $14 million awarded to the nineteen 1890 Land-Grant Universities in the United States as a result of the 2018 Farm Bill.

Scholarships support recruitment and retention, student engagement and mentoring, and training undergraduate students at Central State.  

Applications for scholarships are now being accepted. The eligibility and the deadline for 1890 student scholarship has been extended. For this year only the eligibility criteria has been relaxed to include all Citizens and Nationals of the United States—which includes Ohio as well as out of state students who are eligible for this scholarship.  The deadline for application has been extended up until September 15, 2020. 

The four-year scholarship awards eligible students up to $60,000 which includes tuition, books, and room and board. High school seniors and college transfer students (including community college graduates) who are Ohio residents are eligible to submit an application for the award. The scholarship award is for the following majors: 

  • • Sustainable Agriculture (SAG) 
  • • Agricultural Education (AgEd)
  • • Exercise Science (EXS) with a Nutrition minor 
  • • Agricultural Extension Education (AgExEd)
  • • Agricultural Business (AgB), 
  • • Water Resources Management (WRM)
  • • Environmental Engineering (ENV).

High school applicants must have a cumulative GPA of no less than 2.8 and transfer students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2020. 

To learn more or to apply visit centralstate.edu, email skrishna@centralstate.edu, or call 937-376-6061.

About Central State University:

Central State University, located in Wilberforce, Ohio, is a regionally accredited 1890 Land-Grant University with a 133-year tradition of preparing students from diverse backgrounds and experiences for leadership, research and service. The University, which has been named HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest, fosters academic excellence within a nurturing environment and provides a strong liberal arts foundation and STEM-Ag curriculum leading to professional careers and advanced studies globally.

EEO Statement:

Central State University, an 1890 Land-Grant Institution, is committed to the full inclusion of all people, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, marital or family status, military status, national origin, political beliefs, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. If reasonable accommodations are needed, please contact the Department of Human Resources at 937-376-6540. Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution.

Mike Bloomberg Donates $100 Million To 4 HBCUs To Create More Black Doctors

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According to a study conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges, only 5% of practicing physicians are Black. With growing racial disparities in the medical field, it is important to provide space to create more Black doctors that know how to treat Black patients who are often neglected.  

This week, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg announced he will be making a $100 million donation through Bloomberg Philanthropies to be distributed to scholarships for current students enrolled in medical programs at four HBCU medical schools impacted by the COVID-19, or novel coronavirus, pandemic. The institutions include Meharry Medical College, Howard University College of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Charles R. Drew University University of Medicine and Science.

The $32.8 million gift to Howard’s College of Medicine is the largest sum its been given in its history.

“Healthcare disparities exist for a myriad of reasons related to systemic infrastructural issues, not the least of which is the dearth of Black doctors. Black doctors with cultural competency are a major part of the solution, but their path is often hampered by a compromised financial situation,” said Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, president of Howard University in a press statement.

“This gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies is the first stone dropped into a calm lake of opportunity and promise. The ripple effects that it will have on the lives of our students and our programs will carry on for generations.”

The donation is the first investment from the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative, created to increase generational wealth among Black families. “COVID-19 has been especially devastating for the Black community, and the scarcity of Black doctors practicing in Black communities is one reason for it,” Bloomberg said in a press statement.

“More Black doctors will mean more Black lives saved and fewer health problems that limit economic opportunity. But right now, the burden of student debt and lack of financial aid means that the shortage of Black doctors could get even worse. During my campaign for president, I proposed a set of bold policies—which we called the Greenwood Initiative—to increase generational wealth among Black families and shrink the racial wealth gap. The commitment Bloomberg Philanthropies is making today is just the first step we will take to bring that work to life.”

This article was originally published at Black Enterprise

NCAT Ranks Top HBCU In Money’s “Best Colleges in America”

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Money magazine’s “Best Colleges in America” rankings for 2020 show North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the No. 1 historically Black college or university in the country.

Among all 739 institutions across the nation included in the rankings, A&T also has the fifth-lowest estimated annual cost to attend, at $18,500, tied with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Spelman College.

Of the Tar Heel State’s 21 colleges and universities included in the rankings, A&T remains the most affordable campus not included in the N.C. Promise program. With financial aid factored in, A&T is the second-most affordable campus in North Carolina with an estimate annual cost to attend at $9,800; for low-income students, that cost drops to $8,000.

An Aggie education also pays off handsomely for current and prospective students: A&T is second only to North Carolina State University within the University of North Carolina System in early career alumni earnings at $54,000. Only Duke University and Wake University perform better among the state’s private campuses.

It all adds up to a substantial rise in the magazine’s overall rankings, which place A&T at No. 442 – ahead of UNC System peers UNC Wilmington, UNC Greensboro, Western Carolina University, Winston-Salem State University, UNC-Asheville East Carolina State University and North Carolina Central University and ahead of Spelman, a private institution and the only other HBCU in the top 500. Last year, the university ranked at 656 out of 744 among all four-year schools included on the list.

In addition, A&T has the highest graduation rate – 53 percent – among the state’s HBCUs included on the list: Winston-Salem State, N.C. Central and Elizabeth City State. This year’s national rankings include 22 HBCUs.

“Our path toward preeminence is based on our core values of responsibility, excellence, integrity, inclusiveness and learning,” said Provost Beryl McEwen, Ph.D., executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. “This recognition of A&T reflects our commitment to a culture of intellectual inquiry, personal growth and achievement. It also acknowledges our mission to transform society with exceptional teaching, learning, discovery and community engagement.”

In building its seventh-annual “Best Colleges” rankings, Money focused on quality of education, affordability and outcomes using 27 factors based on data from the U.S. Department of Education, Peterson’s college guide, PayScale.com in concert with the magazine’s own calculations with the American Institutes for Research. The institutions listed in the rankings met Money’s inclusion criteria: enrollment of at least 500 students; financial health; sufficient, reliable data to be analyzed; and a graduation rate at or exceeding the median for its institutional category or a high “value-added” graduation rate.

Media Contact Information: jtorok@ncat.edu

Congressional Delegation Speaks On Flight Act At Delaware State Airpark

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Delaware’s entire Congressional Delegation came to Delaware State University to talk about pending federal legislation that will provide ROTC cadets enrolled in the University’s Aviation Program with some much needed financial support.

U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester joined University President Tony Allen for a media event to talk about The Flight Act – legislation that would cover the expensive lab costs for Aviation majors who are also a part of ROTC. The legislation – of which Sen. Coons is a co-sponsor – has passed the U.S. Senate and now awaits U.S. House passage.

Dr. Allen praised the Congressional Delegation for their faithful support of the University, especially as evidenced by their work on the Flight Act.

“We are already committed to doubling the size of our Aviation Program in the next five years,” Dr. Allen said. “We knew that we could do that with an increased aircraft fleet, and now we are certain we can exceed that with the Flight Act.”

Sen. Coons pointed out that while 20% of U.S. Air Force are people of color, only 2% of military pilots are black or brown Americans; and that only 3% of that group are civilian pilots. He was the Flight Act will help address the shortage of pilots of color.

“In a state with such remarkable potential, in a nation with such incredible human resources at the ready, this is the exactly the place where that next generation of pilots of color will be trained and where we will keep breaking through into blue skies of great opportunity,” Sen. Coons said. “The Flight Act is a small, clear, but important reminder of what the framers (of the U.S. Constitution) expected us to do in Washington, D.C. and what is possible when we do it together.”

Sen. Coons noted that ROTC students at Del State should not have to go to University of Delaware, but should be able to take advantage of the flight training at Delaware State University. He added that such ROTC cadets need financial help to cover the cost. “The Flight Act takes care of both of those two things,” he said.

The legislation’s provision for financial help to cover the lab cost is no small thing. The Aviation Program’s lab costs range from almost $10,000 to more than $19,000 per year.

Rep. Rochester said the Flight Act encapsulates equity, opportunity and service. “Today is the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington,” she said. “Those are the same principles and ideas that people marched for then and people are marching for today.”

Sen. Carper ended the event with his often-repeated statement during his visits to Del State: “Hornets rising.”

Meet Interim Fisk University President Dr. Vann Newkirk

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The Board of Trustees of Fisk University has named Dr. Vann Newkirk Sr. as Interim President. Dr. Newkirk received his doctorate in history from Howard University and has been a proven leader in higher education for more than 20 years. Dr. Newkirk served as Provost for three years at Elizabeth City State University before joining the Fisk team as Provost in 2018. Dr. Newkirk has held numerous senior administrative and academic positions throughout his outstanding career. His expertise in accreditation matters and programmatic development is nationally recognized, and he has established himself as a leader in the education technology space.

Dr. Newkirk has substantial experience managing budgets, overseeing major grants, supervising enrollment management, and spearheading the research. In addition to his administrative accomplishments, Dr. Newkirk is a published scholar and recipient of the Willie Parker Award. Since he arrived at Fisk, Dr. Newkirk has not only launched several highly successful new programs including bioinformatics, data science, and social justice, he has also been instrumental in the University’s accreditation process. According to Board Chair Frank Sims, Fisk has benefitted greatly from Dr. Newkirk’s leadership and we are confident he will lead the University to new heights in the coming years.

I am honored by this opportunity and look forward to the days ahead, said Dr. Newkirk. I am excited about the existing momentum and Fisk is poised for a great future. According to Dr. Newkirk, Fisk has a critical role to play both in Nashville and across the country. Our students are excellent, our faculty outstanding, our board insightful, our alumni/supporters invigorated, our finances sound and our partnerships inspiring, concluded Dr. Newkirk.

Verzuz Battle Kicks Off With A Kamala Harris Cameo

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Monday night transported a generation of fans back into time as singers Monica and Brandy delivered some of their most beloved songs from the 90’s. And while eager viewers were anticipating the time hop, they were surprised to see vice-presidential candidate, HBCU Alumna Kamala Harris kick off the epic Verzuz battle.

“I just wanted to thank you ladies, you queens, you stars,” Harris said excitedly appearing on a screen positioned between the two women. “Thank you for doing this for When We All Vote. It’s so important for everyone. You both used your voice in such a powerful way, and an extension of our voices is our vote.”

On Twitter, fans shared their surprise to see the California senator whose name went trending along with #Verzuz and Brandy and Monica.

This is not the first time When We All Vote, got in on a cultural moment. Outside of the virtual dance parties meet voter drives they’ve hosted with Club Quarantine creator DJ D–Nice,  Michelle Obama’s voting rights organization has also teamed up with Babyface and Teddy Riley following their epic battle for a voter registration drive. And the nonpartisan org was also there for the virtual Roots Picnic at the end of June.  

“When We All  Vote is a non-profit nonpartisan organization on a mission to change the culture around voting and increasing turnout,” Crystal Carson, director of communications for When We All Vote told ESSENCE on Monday night. “To change the culture means we have to be in the culture, and iconic events like tonight’s Verzuz, is just that.”

READ FULL VIA ESSENCE

FAA Designates ECSU a UAS-CTI School as Aviation Program Enrollment Growth Continues

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Just as Elizabeth City State University is celebrating record enrollment, and another year of enrollment growth in its aviation science program, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that the university’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drone, degree program has been selected as part of its Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program. 

According to ECSU’s Dean of the School of Science, Aviation, Health and Technology, Dr. Kuldeep Rawat, inclusion in the FAA’s CTI program means that the university’s curriculum meets its national standards for the small Unmanned Aircraft Systems training program. This FAA distinction now affords ECSU the opportunity to partnerwith the FAA to address labor force needs. 

For students, the program gives them an opportunity to network and aid them in seeking future employment in the aviation industry.

“This collaboration will ensure that ECSU graduates have the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a successful career in a UAS-related field ,” said Dr. Rawat. . 

According to the FAA, the UAS-CTI program recognizes institutions that prepare students for careers in unmanned aircraft systems.To qualify for the initiative, schools must offer a bachelor’s in UAS or a degree with a minor or concentration, or certificate in UAS – ECSU offers both a degree and the concentration in UAS. 

Schools must provide a curriculum covering various aspects of UAS training, including hands-on flight practice, maintenance, uses, applications, privacy concerns, safety, data processing, and federal policies concerning UAS. 

ECSU offers the only four-year degree in aviation science in North Carolina and launched its UAS degree program in the fall of 2019. 

In addition to inclusion in the FAA’s UAS-CTI program, ECSU is also an FAA PART 141 flight school, offering a more structured training environment for future pilots. PART 141 schools are classified as better structured for full time, career-oriented students and will allow students a shorter flight-training period.

Dr. Rawat says the 141 designation reduces the flight training degree requirement from 250 hours to 190 hours. This will save students 60 hours of flight time and reduce their flight training cost significantly.

This PART 141 designation will also work to establish a more direct commercial airline path for aviation students.

These factors and more have contributed to the consistent enrollment growth of the university’s aviation science program, according to Dr. Rawat. For the fall 2020 enrollment, Aviation Science has increased by 30 percent, from 97 students in 2019 to 127 this year. The increase has continued from 2018 when aviation science enrollment was 68 .

Over the past two years, ECSU has entered into articulation agreements with three North Carolina community colleges offering aviation programs, bringing students to the university to complete their degrees. In addition, Dr. Rawat says consistent outreach and summer programs offered by the university are boosting the program’s profile in communities across the state and beyond.

ECSU announced earlier this week that it has experienced the highest enrollment since the fall 2014 semester. According to the fall 2020 enrollment census, released Monday, Aug. 24, total enrollment is 2,002, a 13 percent increase over fall 2019. Aviation science is a contributing factor in ECSU’s ongoing enrollment growth.

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