ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 11: A general view of An Evening with Cyntoia Brown at Clark Atlanta University on November 11, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
On Thursday, the campus of Clark Atlanta University experienced severe flooding after torrential rain impacted several areas of downtown Atlanta.
The storm flooded several roads alongside the Atlanta University Center (AUC), leaving multiple vehicles submerged underwater. Videos on social media showed flooding some dorms as well.
Many students have been relocated into temporary housing in response to the flooding.
One video posted to social media shows water rushing down the hallway of dorms at Clark Atlanta as students try to push through a door with water rushing in through it. In the video, a student’s leg appeared to be stuck in a door.
Morgan Lee, a Clark Atlanta student who witnessed the incident, told AJC, that the student suffered injuries after her leg became trapped in a doorway due to the heavy water pressure. “After more people came to help she was free, but her leg received a lot of damage, like bleeding and fractures,” she said.
The AJC reports that the school has received numerous donations from campus organizations at Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Fort Valley State University to help support the students who have been relocated after the flooding. The donations include money, toiletries, food, clothing and more.
”One organization raised over $400 in like an hour, so we have too much stuff,” said Clark Atlanta senior Anthony Mitchell. “It was amazing to see how fast the AUC and HBCU world came together.”
According to Fox 5 Storm Team, more than two inches of rain fell in a little less than an hour. The news source estimated that it was about three hours’ worth of rain dumped on the city in just a matter of minutes.
Clark Atlanta said in a statement that remediation companies are on campus removing water and making repairs.
Vice President Kamala Harris is set to make an appearance at three HBCUs as part of her “Fight For Our Freedoms” college tour.
According to a statement from the White House, the tour will focus on key issues that disproportionately impact young people across the country, including reproductive freedom, gun safety, climate action, voting rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and book bans.
“This generation is critical to the urgent issues that are at stake right now for our future,” said Vice President Harris. “It is young leaders throughout America who know what the solutions look like and are organizing in their communities to make them a reality. My message to students is clear: We are counting on you, we need you, you are everything.”
As students return to school, I'm launching a nationwide Fight For Our Freedoms College Tour.
I'll be back in states across America — from NC and GA to NV, AZ, VA, and beyond — to organize alongside the young people who are leading the fight for fundamental freedoms and rights.
As per the White House, “the Vice President will highlight how the Biden-Harris Administration has delivered for young people, outline the work ahead to protect fundamental freedoms and hear directly from students who are organizing on the frontlines of these fights. She will also urge attendees to register to vote, use their voice, and stay engaged.”
Vice President Harris’s “Fight for Our Freedoms College Tour” will include visits to historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and state schools.
Vice President Harris will be visiting the following HBCUs during her “Fight for Our Freedoms College Tour”:
Morgan State University has been awarded a nearly $3-million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support graduate-level research on climate change using artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Morgan State University has been awarded a nearly $3-million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support graduate-level research on climate change using artificial intelligence and machine learning.
With the five-year funding from NSF, Morgan State University will establish an NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program in Artificial Intelligence for Climate Change and Environmental SuStainability (ACCESS).
According to the university, the new program will provide “hands-on training for the next generation of scientists and engineers researching artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions to wide-ranging climate change impacts.”
The ACCESS program at Morgan State University will train nearly 50 Ph.D. students including 25 trainees from various scientific fields including, bioenvironmental science, mathematics education, engineering, and computer science. One of the goals of the program is to provide trainees with vigorous investigative research and learning experience.
The trainees will work under the guidance of diverse faculty and postdoctoral instructors to solve real-world environmental challenges while also participating in professional development activities, according to the university.
Samendra Sherchan, Ph.D., associate professor of biology within the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences (SCMNS) and executive director of the Center of Research Excellence in Wastewater-based Epidemiology and Center for Climate Change and Health at Morgan State University, serves as the principal investigator (PI).
“The NRT ACCESS program advances convergence research by training graduate students at the intersection of climate change, health, and AI,” said Dr. Sherchan. “This grant will allow our students the opportunity to continue expanding ambitious research projects while also developing the necessary skills to pursue a range of STEM careers.”
Dr. Sherchan said although the program will be mostly research-focused, trainees will benefit from “advanced experimental courses, producing a mentored research thesis, participating in a series of professional leadership and ethics workshops, and a variety of internship opportunities.”
Since June 2020, Morgan has received 84 awards from the National Science Foundation for a total of $30 million in research grants.
Fisk University has announced the appointment of Agenia Walker Clark as its next president.
Clark will succeed Frank Sims, Fisk’s former board chair who has been serving as interim president since last year.
As she takes up her new post, effective November 6, Clark will be the 18th president and the third female to lead the institution.
Fisk University’s 18th president Agenia Walker Clark
“Dr. Clark’s lifelong dedication to improving the lives of young people, along with her unique combination of fundraising and brand-building skills, are exactly what Fisk needs today,” says Juliette Pryor, chair of the Fisk Board of Trustees. “I know that Dr. Clark’s bold ideas will positively impact our campus community today while assuring a fast-growing trajectory for the future.”
Clark comes to Fisk with a long history of leadership in Nashville.
Clark has spent the last 19 years as the CEO of the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee and was recently named “Nashvillian of the Year” by the Nashville Business Journal in 2021. She has received many honors including being listed among “Nashville’s 100 Most Powerful People” by the Nashville Business Journal in 2020, and and named as the “Person-In-Charge” from 2014-2021 by The Nashville Post. She is also an inductee in the Academy for Women of Achievement and a member of the International Women’s Forum.
The newly appointed president also previously worked for the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation, Vanderbilt University, and Nortel Networks and currently sits on multiple boards, including FirstBank Financial, Belmont University, and Simmons University. She is also a trustee emerita for the Haslam School of Business board at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Clark holds both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Tennessee and a doctorate in leadership from Vanderbilt University.
“To serve a new generation of brilliant, socially minded students — not unlike their counterparts of decades past, like W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, John Lewis and Dr. Diane Nash — is surely the honor of my lifetime,” Clark said in a press release. “No institution of higher-ed has a richer legacy — or a richer promise for the future — than Fisk.”
Traditionally, Historically Black Colleges and Universities are located in African-American neighborhoods, many of which experience gentrification. Let’s talk about the affect of gentrification on HBCU campuses and its students.
Gentrification is a serious matter that PBS describes as, “a general term for the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, a related increase in rents and property values, and changes in the district’s character and culture.”
Coined by British sociologist Ruth Glass in 1964, gentrification has been a topic of concern since its inception and continues to be as more longtime residents experience economic displacement.
Traditionally, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are located in African-American neighborhoods, many of which experience gentrification. In turn, the process of gentrification affects not only the residents but the college students as well.
Photo taken in the Salemtown neighborhood of Nashville, TN, near HBCUs Tennessee State University, Fisk University, and Meharry Medical College. Credit: Medium/Joe Buglewicz
As new residents move into the neighborhood, gentrification changes the culture of HBCU campuses and makes it more challenging for students to afford off-campus housing as the cost of rent rises.
North Nashville is the oldest, and most historic, African American neighborhood in Nashville and has continuously been impacted by gentrification over the years. While just taking a simple drive through the neighborhood, the gentrification is clear as day as “tall and skinnies” take over the area.
These homes are structured very narrow and high so many can be built on the same strip. George Lauderback, owner of L&S Construction Services described the process saying, “You tear down the eyesore and build two nice houses in their place, and raise the property values.”
In 2018, North Nashville resident, Tonya Wade-Moody expressed her concerns about gentrification to City Council. “Where are the affordable homes? All of these people are being kicked out, put out of their homes” she said. “You’re bringing in these high-priced condos/ apartments. The average person can’t afford that.”
The average college student can afford it either.
Gone are the days when living off campus was more inexpensive than living on campus. According to Realtor.com, apartments for rent near Tennessee State University have a median rental price of $2,450. These rising prices continue to affect the surrounding HBCUs and their students as the university is forced to increase housing tuition in order to pay the high property costs.
Because of gentrification, many students can’t afford to live near campus and instead must make a long commute to get to and from school. As students and residents are forced to move out of the neighborhood, new, usually white, residents who don’t understand the culture of HBCUs move in causing a clash between some HBCUs and the neighborhood they’re located in.
Howard University experienced such a clash not too long ago when residents were using the school’s central lawn, The Yard, as a place to walk their dogs.
New gentrifers of the DC area,@HowardU's a University n not meant to be a playground for your recreation. Please respect the learning space of my dear HBCU. Find a local park and let the students have the space they are paying tuition for. #respecttheyardhttps://t.co/LB9rb7zQn1
The dog-walking issue became a point of debate between students and alumni, who argued that residents walking their dogs and letting them urinate and defecate on campus was disrespectful to the historic institution and the safe space it creates for black students, while residents didn’t see an issue.
With an air of entitlement, one resident suggested to Fox 5 DC that the campus should be moved if they don’t want to work within DC, thus sparking the hashtag #HowardWontMove.
Zachary Graham, a 2018 Howard graduate explained the reason for outrage perfectly in an interview with The Guardian, saying, “Howard is a space that has a lot of cultural and historical significance for African Americans and just people in the [African] diaspora,” He said area pet owners should “check your privilege and understand that, yeah, you may be a part of this community, but Howard has been here for 152 years … some things are deeper than just walking your dog.”
Howard president, Wayne A. I. Frederick has since banned residents around school from walking their dogs on campus, asking them to respect the campus “by not bringing pets onto the private areas.”
Gentrification has also been a topic of concern for students and alumni at Shaw University due to the recent vote to rezone a section of the downtown campus.
According to Black Enterprise, the university is “ seeking to rezone 27 acres of its downtown campus in Raleigh, North Carolina, while also asking for its property to be redesignated as a “Mixed Business District”. They are requesting to increase the existing heights of its buildings to 30 stories and lease parts of the campus to developers to create retail, office, and residential space. Opposers to the plan feel as though it will give developers too much influence, resulting in gentrification and historic buildings on campus being destroyed.
During the rezoning vote, Shaw alum Eugene Myrick pleaded with the Council saying “Our historic buildings will be lost, our history will be lost. And I am asking you all to stick to the policy and vote this disastrous thing down.”
In a 5-3 vote, the rezoning request was approved on June 20, a decision that Shaw alum Kesha Monk says “will definitely be the end of Shaw.”
Some argue that not all gentrification is bad.
Many feel that gentrification can be favorable because it may reduce crime rates, create new business and housing opportunities, and stabilize the local economy. Even Howard president, Wayne A. I. Frederick encouraged people to look at gentrification differently in a 2019 interview with The Atlantic. He said it may bring a chance to create jobs for people in the neighborhood when talking about plans to move Howard’s hospital to the St. Elizabeth’s campus.
“We talk about gentrification, but the subplot there is a racial issue, and we unfortunately leave that elephant in the room and talk around it by putting the word gentrification around that elephant,” said Frederick. “But the truth of the matter is, we should be looking at [the question of]: How do we empower people in that neighborhood so that they can raise their income levels and raise their quality of life?”
No matter what your view on gentrification is, one must ask themselves if the benefits are worth more than maintaining a culture and community.
Fort Valley State University has partnered with the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy to help support students and future pharmacists through their new “3 + 4” program, which allows students to gain an earlier start in the pharmaceutical industry.
Fort Valley State University (FVSU) has partnered with the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Pharmacy to help support students and future pharmacists through their new “3 + 4” program, which allows students to gain an earlier start in the pharmaceutical industry.
The program provides FVSU undergraduate chemistry students with a guided pathway into UGA’s 4-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program.
According to the school, Junior-year FVSU students, in particular, who maintain certain academic criteria and successfully fulfill all admissions requirements into UGA will receive a guaranteed interview at the College of Pharmacy. Those admitted will then complete the articulated PharmD courses. In turn, the course credits will be transferred back to FVSU to fulfill the requirements for a BS degree.
Fort Valley State University (FVSU) and the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Pharmacy “3 + 4” program signing ceremony
Fares Howari, the dean of Fort Valley State University’s College of Arts and Sciences told 13WMAZ that students will benefit greatly from the “3 + 4” program.
“They will get skills, competence, and knowledge to enable them to do research and development and to deliver what they find and to be able to communicate with the patient, to be able to communicate with the stakeholders, the policymakers, and the community as well,” said Howari.
This year, there has been a shortage of pharmacists in the U.S. due to exhaustion and burnout, resulting in major retail pharmacy chains, such as CVS and Walmart announcing that they were cutting pharmacy hours due to a lack of staffing. FVSU and UGA’s joint program aims to eliminate the shortage by preparing students with the proper tools and education to serve the community.
“There is no better time to forge this unique relationship,” said Kelly Smith, the Dean of UGA’s College of Pharmacy. “Georgia communities are projected to need more pharmacists now and in the future. The value of pharmacists in helping people address their healthcare concerns is becoming extraordinarily apparent, especially since the pandemic. Pharmacists are being recognized for their leadership and the value they bring to an integrated healthcare team.”
The highly anticipated REVOLT WORLD is almost here and it’s bringing a lineup of the biggest artists, industry experts, tastemakers, and cultural leaders for a weekend you don’t want to miss.
Hip-Hop’s Hottest Celebs to Heat Up REVOLT WORLD’s Exciting Three-day Weekend
The highly anticipated REVOLT WORLD is almost here and it’s bringing a lineup of the biggest artists, industry experts, tastemakers, and cultural leaders for a weekend you don’t want to miss.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ reimagined REVOLT Summit will take place in Atlanta from Sept. 22-24. REVOLT WORLD, presented by Walmart will feature panels, keynotes, and performances from a variety of legendary icons and rising artists impacting culture today.
“REVOLT WORLD was created to celebrate the global impact of hip-hop and introduce a new live event category that represents the highest level of entertainment, education, and opportunity,” Combs said in a press release. Our vision was to build on the tremendous success of REVOLT Summit and deliver a first-of-its-kind event that reimagined the intersection of culture, community, and connections with the most influential leaders across generations.”
This year’s impressive talent lineup includes appearances by Don Toliver, Moneybagg Yo, Yung Miami, Mr. Eazi, Jeezy, G Herbo, Joey Bada$$, Omarion, Juvenile, Tank, Tee Grizzley, Saucy Santana, Queen Naija, Fivo Foreign, Young M.A, Uncle Waffles, Jozzy, Curren$y, Babyface Ray, Tyler Lepley, Maiya The Don, Dvsn and Royce Da 5’9” and more.
As REVOLT WORLD honors the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop with the theme We Are Hip Hop, the event will feature conversations with Amber Grimes, Walter J. Tucker, Groovey Lew, Lauren London, Rotimi, Sowmya Krishnamurthy, DJ Hed, Flau’jae, and Jemele Hill exploring topics ranging from the new era of R&B to the business of gaming, Hip Hop’s influence on high fashion and empowering women in sports.
The event will also feature exclusive live viewings of REVOLT’S hit series, Caresha Please, The Jason Lee Show, Drink Champs with Noreaga and DJ EFN, Assets Over Liabilities with Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings and Big Facts with Big Bank, DJ Scream and Baby Jade.
REVOLT’S hit series, Caresha Please with rapper Yung Miami
Some of the events at REVOLT WORLD include Aux Cord Wars, the REVOLT Podcast Network Pitch Competition, a Music Production Masterclass, career fairs, network meetups, and more.
To read the full schedule for the exciting three-day weekend, click here.
“We are thrilled to present this extraordinary lineup of talent at REVOLT WORLD who share our mission to provide access, knowledge, and opportunities that amplify our culture’s influence,” REVOLT CEO Detavio Samuels said. From industry icons to visionary thought leaders, these individuals embody the spirit of creativity, empowerment and change that REVOLT stands for. Together, we will ignite conversations, spark inspiration, and create a lasting impact on a global scale.”
September 6 is National Read a Book Day and we’re encouraging you to get lost in a book written by a HBCU alum. Here’s 7 HBCU Alum Authors to Support this National Read a Book Day!
September 6 is National Read a Book Day, a day that encourages all book lovers to get lost in a book. With so many books to choose from, we suggest narrowing your search with a book from one marvelous HBCU alum authors listed below. Ranging in genres, there’s something from everyone in this list of 7 HBCU Alum Authors to Support this National Read a Book Day. Happy reading!
Nic Stone – Spelman College
Nic Stone, born Andrea Nicole Livingstone, is a Spelman College alumna known for her works of young adult and middle-grade fiction. Born and raised in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, Stone found her passion for storytelling when traveling to Israel for a summer in 2008. Her debut book, Dear Martin rose to #4 on the New York Times Bestseller’s list in 2017 and was named a finalist for a William C. Morris award.
Notable Works: Dear Martin, Dear Justyce, Odd One Out, Clean Getaway, Jackpot, Fast Pitch
Ibram X. Kendi – Florida A&M University
Credit: Jeff Watts/American University
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is an American author, professor, anti-racist activist, and historian of race and discriminatory policy in America. He is a National Book Award-winning author of fifteen books for adults and children, including nine New York Times bestsellers—five of which were #1 New York Times bestsellers. Dr. Kendi was the youngest author to win the National Book Award for Nonfiction for his book, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. He also authored the international bestseller, How to Be an Antiracist, which was described in the New York Times as “the most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind.” Dr. Kendi was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world by Time magazine in 2020. He is also the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University, the director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research, a contributing writer at The Atlantic, and a CBS News racial justice contributor. Dr. Kendi earned his undergraduate degrees in journalism and African-American history at Florida A&M University in 2004 and later earned a doctoral degree in African-American Studies from Temple University in 2010.
Notable Works: Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, How to Be an Antiracist, How to Raise an Antiracist, Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America 1619-2019, How to Be a (Young) Antiracist, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, Antiracist Baby
Kwame Mbalia – Howard University
Kwame Mbalia is a husband, father, writer, #1 New York Times bestselling author, former pharmaceutical meteorologist, and a Howard University alum. He is known for his West African mythology book trilogy, the Tristan Strong series. His debut middle-grade novel, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is a 2020 Coretta Scott King Honor Award Winner and a Children’s Africana Book Award Winner. Mbalia is also the co-author of Last Gate of the Emperor with Prince Joel Makonnen and the editor of the #1 New York Times bestselling anthology Black Boy Joy.
Notable Works: Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky, Tristan Strong Destroys The World, Tristan Strong Keep Punching, Last Gate of the Emperor, Black Boy Joy
Daniel Omotosho Black – Clark Atlanta University
Daniel Omotosho Black is an author and professor of African-American studies at his alma mater Clark Atlanta University. He is an award-winning novelist whose works are inspired by African-American life, history, and heritage in the South. His books include The Coming, Perfect Peace and They Tell Me of a Home. Black is the winner of the Distinguished Writer Award from the Middle-Atlantic Writer’s Association and has been nominated for the Townsend Prize for Fiction, the Ernest J. Gaines Award, and the Georgia Author of the Year Award.
Notable Works: Perfect Peace, They Tell Me of a Home, The Sacred Place, The Coming, Don’t Cry for Me, Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America
Tiffany D. Jackson – Howard University
Tiffany D. Jackson is a New York Times Bestselling, award-winning author of YA novels Monday’s Not Coming, Allegedly, Let Me Hear A Rhyme, Grown, White Smoke, Santa in The City, The Weight of Blood, and co-author of Blackout. A Coretta Scott King — John Steptoe New Talent Award-winner and the NAACP Image Award-nominee, she received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University and has over a decade of experience in TV/Film.
Notable Works: Allegedly, Monday’s Not Coming, Let Me Hear a Rhyme, Grown, The Weight of Blood, White Smoke
Jericho Brown – Dillard University
Jericho Brown is an award-winning American poet and writer. The Dillard University alum won the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry in 2020 for his collection The Tradition, which the Pulitzer board deemed “a collection of masterful lyrics that combine delicacy with historical urgency in their loving evocation of bodies vulnerable to hostility and violence.” Brown’s first book, Please, won the American Book Award, his second book, The New Testament won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and his third collection, The Tradition won the Paterson Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. His poems have appeared in The Bennington Review, Buzzfeed, Fence, jubilat, The New Republic, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, TIME magazine, and several volumes of The Best American Poetry. Brown is also the director of the Creative Writing Program and a professor at Emory University.
Notable Works: The Tradition, Please, The New Testament.
Farrah Rochon – Xavier University of Louisiana
Farrah Rochon is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author. A native of south Louisiana, she officially began her writing career while waiting in between classes in the student lounge at Xavier University of Louisiana. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree from Xavier and a Master of Arts from Southeastern Louisiana University, Farrah decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a published novelist. Rochon is a two-time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award, as well as the 2015 winner of the Emma Award for Author of the Year. Her June 2020 novel, The Boyfriend Project, was slated as a must-read Black romance novel by O, The Oprah Magazine, and was praised by Cosmopolitan as a Best Summer Read of 2020.
Notable Works: The Boyfriend Project, Almost There: A Twisted Tale, The Hookup Plan, The Dating Playbook
Morehouse College mourns the loss of two students who were killed in a crash on Monday afternoon.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, the crash happened shortly after 5 p.m. on Linwood Avenue and Church Street. They said the car was speeding when it passed another car on a curve before leaving the road. The car hit a utility pole and rotated before hitting another utility pole and overturning. Both students died at the scene.
The college released a statement Tuesday morning confirming the deaths of Hugh Douglas and Christion Files Jr., both Morehouse College juniors and Business Administration majors.
“Hugh Douglas was an exceptional student who displayed immense dedication and promise in pursuing a business administration degree with a concentration in finance,” Morehouse said in a post. “…Christion Files Jr. was a remarkable young man who made his mark academically and in extracurricular activities.”
Douglas and Flies Jr. were friends and roommates and both were members of the Morehouse Business Association.
Douglas, who is the son of former NFL defensive end Hugh Douglas, was an AltFinance and Goldman Sachs Fellow and recently completed a summer internship with Ares Management Corporation in Los Angeles, according to Morehouse.
Flies Jr., who was driving at the time of the crash, served as co-captain for the HBCU’s Track and Field Team, media chair for the Junior Class Council, and was an active member of the Morehouse Business Association. He was also known for his photography and videography skills, which he used to create high-quality content for students, campus organizations, Morehouse Athletics, and the College’s marketing office, according to the school.
“During these difficult times, we must come together as a community to remember and celebrate the lives of Hugh and Christion,” Morehouse College said in their statement. “They leave a legacy of excellence, passion, and dedication that will continue to inspire us all. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Hugh and Christion. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this incredibly challenging time.”
Morehouse is encouraging students to contact school counseling services at (470) 639-0231. Affected faculty and staff can contact the Cigna Behavior Hotline at (866) 912-3339 or the Life Assistance Program at (800) 538-3543.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities have produced some of the world’s greatest leaders, thinkers, and creators yet continue to be chronically underfunded in comparison to their predominantly white counterparts. Let’s talk about underfunding at HBCUs.
It’s no secret that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have produced some of the greatest leaders, thinkers, and creators the world has seen. Almost 20% of all Black college graduates come from HBCUs, as well as 25% of Black graduates in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. HBCU alumni also make up half of Black lawyers and doctors and roughly 80% of black judges. HBCUs produce so much excellence yet continue to be chronically underfunded in comparison to their predominantly white counterparts.
“HBCUs have absolutely faced decades, and for some over a century, of underfunding from both federal and state governments,” Kayla Elliott, director of higher education policy at The Education Trust said.
Research shows that HBCUs also receive lower philanthropic funding as well. A recent study — conducted by the philanthropic research group Candid and ABFE, a nonprofit that advocates for investments in Black communities – found that the average HBCU received 178 times less funding from foundations than the average Ivy League school in 2019
Additionally, HBCU endowments are a fraction of the size of those of predominantly white schools, according to Forbes. The magazine found that in 2020, the average endowment at the 18 white land-grant schools was $1.9 billion while at the Black colleges, it was $34 million. The magazine found that in 2020, the average endowment at the 18 white land-grant schools was $1.9 billion while at the Black colleges, it was $34 million.
Without proper funding, HBCUs are prone to experience deferred maintenance on buildings, lower scholarship offerings and financial aid packages for students, and lower salaries for teachers.
Many HBCUs have also experienced housing crises and overflow as a result of underfunding. In 2020, 55% of HBCU students reported experiencing housing insecurity, and 20% reported experiencing homelessness, according to a report by The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University and Virginia Union University’s Center for the Study of HBCUs. Students at various HBCUs such as Howard University, Spelman College, and North Carolina A&T have held protests to voice their concerns over the lack of housing on campus and poor living conditions. Some schools like Tennessee State University and Morgan State University have resulted to renting out hotels for student housing.
According to an investigation conducted by Forbes, the nation’s Black land-grant universities have been underfunded by at least $12.8 billion over the last three decades compared to their predominantly white counterparts.
All land-grant schools, whether Black or white, were created with the same purpose: to foster agricultural research and instruction. Forbe’s investigation compared HBCUs to their state’s historically white land-grant institutions to determine whether public HBCUs have been underfunded.
Forbes found that North Carolina A&T University had the largest gap in funding when compared to its white counterpart, North Carolina State University. Since 1987, it has been underfunded over $2.7 billion. According to the Forbes investigation, the “single worst instance of annual underfunding for any school was in 2020” when the North Carolina legislature appropriated N.C. A&T $95 million, $8,200 less per student than the $16,400 per student it gave to NC State.
Tennessee State University (TSU), the only public HBCU in Tennessee, was also supposed to receive funds matching its federal land grant, but the state allocated no land-grant funds to the institution between 1957 and 2007. In 2021, a legislative report found that during those 50 years, the state of Tennessee underfunded Tennessee State University by as much as $544 million. According to the Tennessean, TSU’s white counterpart, The University of Tennessee received its full state match, and in some years received more than federally required.
“There were funds available for the University of Tennessee, but there were no funds for TSU,” TSU President Glenda Glover said. “There is something wrong with that picture. And there is no right way to do what’s wrong. This is a wrong that has been perpetrated on TSU.”
TSU has since received a historic $250 million from the State of Tennessee that will go toward long-overdue campus repairs and upgrades but cannot be used to build student housing as such buildings are considered auxiliary facilities that generate revenue, according to a recent comptroller’s report.
TSU officials also attributed the university’s recent housing overflow problems that were brought up in the state’s comptroller report to the historic underfunding.
“The accomplishments of Tennessee State University are all the more impressive when one recalls that TSU has experienced decades of being underfunded,” said Charles Galbreath, president of the TSU’s national alumni association. “The issue of land-grant funding must be considered when assessing the university’s business affairs and overall management.”
Many scholars accredit these cases of underfunding to historical and present-day systematic racism.
Last year, six students filed a lawsuit claiming that the State prioritizes funding for PWIs like Florida State University over HBCUs like FAMU. According to the Washington Post, “The complaint says there has been a deliberate effort by the state to undermine FAMU’s competitiveness by letting other public colleges duplicate its academic programs, luring away prospective students. Decades of disparate state funding have prevented FAMU from achieving parity with its traditionally White counterparts, according to the suit. It claims the University of Florida received a larger state appropriation per student than FAMU from 1987 to 2020, amounting to a shortfall of roughly $1.3 billion.”
“The lawsuit also alleges that FAMU faculty members are paid less than counterparts at other Florida universities and that FAMU has been hurt financially by issues such as the state’s performance-based funding system, which helps determine how much money goes to schools,” according to CBS News.
“We do deserve to be treated equally as those students that are literally across the tracks from us. It’s not fair that we aren’t able to get the same opportunities. We aren’t allowed to get the same amount of money. We aren’t allowed the same education in the same city as another school that has every opportunity in the world.” said FAMU student and plaintiff Brittney Denton.
If the judge rules in the plaintiff’s favor, the case could have a significant outcome like that of the rulings in Maryland, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina for non-discriminatory funding at public HBCUs. In March 2021, after a 15-year court battle Maryland agreed to pay $577 million to the state’s four public HBCUs. In 2002, The US District Court ordered Mississippi to spend more than 500 million on its 3 HBCUs and 4 years later Alabama agreed to pay $600 million toward a 30-year campus renovation plan for the state’s two public HBCUs.
Adam Harris, journalist and author of the book “The State Must Provide: Why America’s Colleges Have Always Been Unequal” calls on states to do an individual account of what reparations are owed to those institutions. The United Negro College Fund suggests a three-pronged approach to tackling underfunding issues at HBCUs. First, they say to ask that the federal government commit to funding HBCUs, collectively at federally mandated levels going forward while providing extra funds to address the deferred maintenance backlog. Secondly, they say to rally public and private sector donors to help HBCUs attain unrestricted funds to obtain parity in their endowments. Lastly, they suggest capitalizing on the greater awareness of HBCUs to attract a higher level of contributions from private donors and reinforce the importance of unrestricted gifts.
Inside Higher Ed reports that the upcoming update to the farm bill may make up for historical underfunding at the country’s 19 land-grant HBCUs. “The farm bill, last updated in 2018, is a wide-ranging package of legislation that authorizes programs and spending related to agriculture and nutrition, including millions for agriculture research and extension services for land-grant universities. The 2018 bill included a number of wins for the Black land-grants such as creating six new centers of excellence and $80 million in scholarship funds for HBCU students. Advocates are hoping to build on those gains in this next update.”
The Biden-Harris Administration has also made strides to remedy the underfunding of HBCUs. According to the White House, they have delivered nearly $6 billion cumulative investment through the Department of Education to support HBCUs.
At the beginning of August, the US Department of Education announced the launch of two grant programs (Historically Black Colleges or Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges or Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions Research and Development Infrastructure Grant Program and The Postsecondary Student Success Grant) to expand research infrastructure at HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), and to increase completion and retention rates among underserved students.
Adequate funding for HBCUs is especially important with the end of affirmative action, as these institutions are expected to see an increase in enrollment.
The affirmative action ruling has raised funding concerns, and rightfully so, as increased enrollment means “more resources, buildings, space, and technology,” said Eddy Carder, an assistant professor of constitutional law and philosophy at Prairie View A&M.
According to Inside Higher Ed, David K. Sheppard, chief business and legal officer at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund believes it’s federal lawmakers’ responsibility to ensure HBCU campuses have the funds they need to hire additional faculty members, build up campus infrastructure and otherwise support incoming students.
“This was a decision by one of the three branches of government,” he said. “So now it’s up to the other two branches of government to see the value of historically Black colleges and universities, to see the value of African American student populations, and to react and lead the private sector.”
HBCUs, rich in history and Black excellence have given so much to their students – community, education, and preparation to take on the world. With proper funding imagine how much more good they can put out into the world.“It is important to invest in them, because we’ve continued to have this narrative that these institutions do more with less, and it’s high time that they don’t do more with less,” said Denise Smith, a senior fellow at The Century Foundation, a progressive think tank. “This is for the betterment of not only just the institutions, but for the nation.”
Alabama State University’s Biomedical Engineering Department has been awarded a $1.2 million grant to student kidney tissue regeneration by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Alabama State University‘s Biomedical Engineering Department has been awarded a $1.2 million grant to student kidney tissue regeneration by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The department will study how to incorporate artificial intelligence in the design of 3-dimensional scaffolds for renal tissue regeneration.
“This research addresses a very critical issue in the United States. Many of us know someone who suffers from this disease, and we need creative approaches to address it,” said Principal Investigator Dr. Derrick Dean, professor and director of Biomedical Engineering. “We also appreciate support from Dr. (Quinton) Ross, which was instrumental in helping to secure the funding.”
According to Dean, approximately 37 million people in the United States suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD) which can progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which is irreversible.
He stresses the importance of the project, saying “that it will enable the design of more functional kidney tissue constructs for renal diseases.”
The project will provide interdisciplinary education and training opportunities for graduate students in the planned Ph.D. program in Integrative Engineering and Biosciences. It will also provide professional development workshops and community outreach activities, according to Dean.
“This will help improve the research quality of the institution and can contribute to increased diversity in the STEM workforce,” said Dean.
Funding for the project is being provided by the NSF Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology and HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (CREST HBCU-RISE) program, which supports the expansion of institutional research capacity as well as the successful training of doctoral students, especially those from groups underrepresented in STEM at HBCUs, according to the university.
The Atlanta University Center Consortium has been given an all-clear after a bomb threat prompted a shelter-in-place order on campuses Monday afternoon.
The bomb threat was reported near the 600 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. which is slightly north of Clark Atlanta University‘s campus.
According to an alert sent out by Spelman College, Atlanta police and K-9 units searched the campus around Oglethorpe Hall, which houses the School of Fashion and Design.
“Local authorities conducted a K-9 sweep in the area and found no imminent threats. An all clear has been issued,” Clark Atlanta University officials said in a statement. “CAU encourages all members of their community to stay alert, be vigilant and if you see something say something”
According to Channel 2 Action News, someone sent a threat via email to their newsroom claiming that there were bombs on the Morris Brown campus on Monday.
The news source said that it’s unclear if police have searched the Morris Brown campus and the threat centered around the college’s new mask mandate related to COVID-19 cases.
August is National Black Business Month, a time to recognize and support Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs across the country. Check out our list of seven Black-owned HBCU-bred businesses and five non-HBCU businesses to support!
August is National Black Business Month, a time to recognize and support Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs across the country. It was created in 2004 when engineer Frederick E. Jordan and historian John William Templeton partnered to o “drive the policy agenda affecting the 2.6 million African-American businesses,” and cultivate greater economic freedom for Black communities. According to the US Federal Reserve, Black entrepreneurs are twice as likely to be turned down for loans as their white counterparts. According to a report from consulting firm McKinsey, only 4% of Black-owned startups remain in operation after 3.5 years. Black-owned businesses are historically underrepresented in the marketplace and that’s why it’s so important to support them and help them thrive. We’ve compiled a list of seven Black-owned HBCU-bred businesses and five non-HBCU businesses to support this National Black Business Month!
Founded by North Carolina A&T University alumna Cheylaina Fultz, HBCU Legacy Fashion specializes in trendsetting clothing for children of proud HBCU graduates. The fashion brand aims to build awareness and pride and spark interest in obtaining a higher education from an HBCU. Twelve percent of each purchase goes back to the school, giving future HBCU students scholarships for their future HBCU college careers.
Gainz Sports Gear is a company that designs and crafts an unrivaled range of robust weight-lifting and cross-training equipment to empower gym enthusiasts. It was founded by Bowie State University graduate Cornell C. Conaway and its mission is to assist customers to make informed decisions in choosing the perfect gym equipment. The company is also known for its HBCU apparel and owns the trademark “HBCU ATHLETE.”
HBCU MADE is a clothing and healthcare apparel line founded by North Carolina A&T University alumna and licensed Occupational Therapist LaTia Kirby. After years of working in the healthcare industry, Kirby noticed the lack of diversity in healthcare apparel brands and was inspired to create HBCU MADE. The brand provides a platform for healthcare professionals who have attended or support a Historically Black College or University.
Launched by North Carolina A&T University alums, Springbreak (SPGBK) Watches is a designer watch company that provides an amazing variety of impactful, unique, & colorful watches. Their hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina is a major influence on the brand as each watch and watch band in the collection is symbolic & named in honor of a school or community located in Fayetteville. The name Springbreak comes from the founders’ desire to give the company a scholastic theme, centered around education.
Tones of Melanin is an HBCU apparel brand founded by Norfolk State University alum, Ashley Jones. Tones of Melanin aims to create clothing that brings awareness to HBCUs and is currently available in over 18 HBCU Follett Bookstores across the country. In May, Jones made an appearance on “Shark Tank” making the Tones of Melanin the first-ever HBCU athleisure brand to be pitched on the show. She sealed a deal with Mark Cuban with him investing $300,000 for 12% equity.
Legacy History Pride was founded by Howard University graduate Tahir “Mr. Legacy” Murray. Legacy History Pride is a clothing brand that embodies the richness and uniqueness of HBCUs and Black Culture. A portion of the proceeds the brand makes goes directly back into the schools that they’ve partnered with. Murray hopes the brand can become the face of HBCU lifestyle and fashion.
Naturalistas
Naturalistas, is a sleek line of contemporary natural-hair fashion dolls, created to uplift and celebrate children with coily, curly, and naturally textured hair. Created by the founder of Purpose Toys, DeeDee Wright-Ward, Naturalistas is a Black woman-owned business and the first natural hair fashion doll line sold at major retail stores.
Kitchen Envy is the second business venture of Jai Nice, who is known for her popular fashion brand, Kloset Envy. Kitchen Envy features a variety of kitchen essentials, including custom seasoning blends, Kitchen Envy Cookbooks, knife sets, and more.
You Got Nailed & Spa is a black-owned nail salon located in Greensboro, North Carolina. They execute all types of designs shapes and artistry on nails and toes and are open Tuesday-Saturday from 10-6. To book an appointment visit yougotnailedandspa.com
Cadeau Cafe is a black-owned cafe located in Fort Myers, Florida. Founded by Wideline Atilard, the business opened in June and has already become a popular spot for the local community. Atilard incorporates her Haitian culture into the drinks, offering cremas, the celebration drink of Haiti. The menu offers a variety of coffees, breakfast items, and lunch items. Cadeau Cafe is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ghetto Girlz Eat is a food and lifestyle brand founded by entrepreneur and Love and Hip Hop star Sierra Glamshop. Ghetto Girlz Eat features a variety of cookbooks, seasoning blends, and other kitchen essentials.
The voting app, Politicking is expanding its mission of increasing millennial voting participation with its inaugural conference, “The Road to 2024.
Politicking was created in 2018 by Howard University alums, Wen-kuni Céant and Jordan Wilson to engage today’s disengaged constituencies.
“Politicking wants to give Millenials and the rest of America the opportunity to walk into their polling precincts feeling confident that they have already navigated the ballot that they will see on election day,” Céant said in an interview with Forbes.
Céant and Jordan are now expanding their voter education efforts with their first conference taking place at their alma mater Howard University on September 15.
In preparation for the upcoming 2024 election, the conference aims to help demystify political conversation and cut through the partisan noise while providing the Black community a safe space for discussion.
The conference will feature five panels catered toward the HBCU demographic that Politicking serves.
Attendees can look forward to the following panels:
Hip Hop & Politics
The GreenHouse Effect: Cannabis
The Politics of Real Estate
The Integrity of the Electoral System: A Discussion on Voter Suppression, Voter ID Laws and Voting Abroad
The GreenHouse Effect: Conservation/Environmental Justice
Each panel will feature expert panelists such as hip hop legend Professor Griff, “Cannabis Councilman” Martin Mitchell, real estate mavens Dr. Jamisa McIvor-Bennet and Marcus Goodwin, and more.
Although students will have the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets, the conference is open to anyone who is interested and invested in the future of U.S. politics
The conference will be immediately followed by an exclusive soirée at DC’s Studio 52, DJed by the acclaimed DJ Quicksilva.
Click here to purchase tickets to “The Road to 2024.”
Coppin State University is cutting the tuition price for out-of-state students by allowing undergraduate students from over 30 states to be eligible for in-state tuition rates upon enrollment.
Coppin State University is cutting the tuition price for out-of-state students by allowing undergraduate students from over 30 states to be eligible for in-state tuition rates upon enrollment.
The proposal, set to take effect in Fall 2024, was approved by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents during a meeting at Coppin State University earlier this year.
At a time where more individuals and families are questioning the value and cost of higher education, our goal is to reduce barriers and increase access to the quality education Coppin State University provides, at an affordable price,” Anthony L. Jenkins, president of Coppin State University, said. “Coppin State gives our students a transformative educational experience in an environment that nurtures, challenges, and empowers them, regardless of their racial or socioeconomic background.”
The in-state tuition offer does not apply to returning undergraduate students, or students pursuing a graduate or doctoral degree.
According to WBFF, school officials say that offering in-state tuition for some out-of-state students will allow Coppin State to expand its enrollment footprint, increase its recruitment of out-of-state students, and strengthen relationships in states where students could have interest in attending an HBCU, either as a first-time or transfer student.
Students living in the following states are eligible for the in-state tuition incentive: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
“Although our students graduate with student loan debt below the national average, with this initiative, we are demonstrating the return on investment for degree-seekers, by further reducing the financial cost, and allowing students to enjoy the holistic experience of their college years,” Jenkins said.
Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has presented Jackson State University a $1 million check through his Sean Combs Foundation to bolster its football team.
On Saturday, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs presented a $1 million check to Jackson State University through his Sean Combs Foundation to bolster its football team.
Diddy made the sizeable contribution at a football game between Jackson State University and South Carolina State taking place at Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium.
The hip-hop icon initially pledged the donation at the 2022 BET Awards while accepting his lifetime achievement award, with details finalized over the past year. According to the university, Combs will invest in JSU football with installments over the next several years.
“If it wasn’t for HBCUs, I wouldn’t be here,” Combs, a graduate of Howard University, told ESPN.
“As someone who went to Howard University and understands the invaluable experience of attending historically Black colleges and universities, it’s important that we all do our part to protect and preserve their legacy,” said Combs of the donation. “This contribution to Jackson State isn’t just about making a financial donation, it’s about giving back to a part of our culture that has changed countless lives and assuring HBCUs receive the support they deserve.”
Combs presented the $1 million check to Jackson State University Acting President Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony, and Vice President / Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson at the end of the first quarter of the game.
“This contribution by one of the world’s greatest and most influential entertainers and businessmen is another historic moment in the legendary history of Jackson State University,” said Robinson. “Beyond the financial investment, it’s what it represents that is paramount – the belief in the value of our football student-athletes both on and off the field, which provides an elite pathway to current and future successes.”
Earlier in the day, prior to his donation to JSU, Diddy announced a $1 million investment fund in partnership with Earn Your Leisure (EYL) and its founders, Rashad Bilal andTroy Millings at Invest Fest in Atlanta. According to a press release, the funds will go toward financial literacy efforts that put “the investment strategies discussed on EYL into action” and offer “a practical model for economic empowerment.”
