by Tania Irwin
As 2016 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the year. With a rise in enrollment numbers and the inclusion of HBCUs and minority serving institutions in the Democratic Party platform, the future is bright for HBCUs. Like the rose that grew from concrete, HBCUs were built to stand in times of adversity and are doing just that. As 2017 draws near, we thought it best to highlight a handful of historically Black colleges and universities that are kicking down barriers for the New Year. The Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions supports you!
1) Morgan State University (HBCU)—Baltimore, MD
Morgan State University officials recently announced the launch of a $250 million capital campaign, designed to support the university’s strategic vision of student access, community revitalization and campus expansion. In the words of President David Wilson, “Next year, 2017, marks a historic milestone in Morgan’s history: the 150th anniversary of the University’s founding. It is a time for reflection on our past and to look forward to our future, a future we believe will be made brighter with the success of this fundraising effort.” Good luck, Bears!
Read the full story here.
2) North Carolina Central University (HBCU)—Durham, NC
North Carolina Central University received a $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Federal TRIO Programs office to establish a new Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) within the Division of Student Affairs. Expected to open this spring, the new center will provide “counseling and resource information on secondary school reentry and entry into alternative education programs for secondary school dropouts, along with guidance to qualified adults on the college admissions and financial aid processes.”
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3) Clark Atlanta University (HBCU)—Atlanta, GA
In 2009, only 2 percent of 5,000+ Ph.D.’s earned in material science were awarded to Black students. Consequently, Clark Atlanta University has been devoted to rectifying this deficit. Since the establishment of the Center for Functional Nanoscale Materials in 2006, CAU has produced 21 Black Ph.D.’s, accounting for the most Black Ph.D.’s in material science than that of any other HBCU or any higher education institution. These Ph.D. recipients go on to earn at least six-figure salaries working in some of the top research labs in the country. But it doesn’t stop there. Moving forward, one of the goals of the CFNM is to annually graduate 10 Black Ph.D. students by 2021. You can do it, CAU!
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4) North Carolina Agricultural &Technological University (HBCU)—Greensboro, NC
In recent news, four NCAT students are the winners of Black Enterprise Magazine’s TechConneXt Summit BE SMART hack-a-thon. Angelica Willis, Brandon Long, Ashana Evans and Jean Beya are the masterminds behind ‘Let’s Go Black: Where Culture Meets Adventure One Road at a Time,’ a mobile app allowing users to geo-target Black-owned businesses along their travel routes, placing them at the center of STEM innovation. BY elevating Black business, this app can enhance the Black middle class and cultivate Black legislative power. Angelica Willis, a member of the winning team stated, “In the next 20 years, minorities will become the majority in the United States, and in order for tech companies to remain relevant, they will need to adapt to the diversity of their customers by diversifying their workforce.” That’s what we call Aggie Pride!
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5) Wiley College (HBCU)—Marshall, TX
Wiley College will receive $1 million over five years to implement its “Your Career Starts Now” program. ‘Your Career Starts Now’ is an initiative designed to implement programs that improve employment outcomes for graduates. The goals of the program include: strengthening Wiley’s career preparatory infrastructure, “increasing positive outcomes for students and their families and enhancing the College’s reputation for producing graduates who are ready to compete, lead, and achieve in the workforce.” With a new emphasis being placed on post-secondary degrees in the job market, we are excited to see Wiley take the labor force by storm.
Read the full story here.
Honorable Mention: United Negro College Fund
Because more than half of recent African American college graduates are underemployed and 12 percent are unemployed, UNCF announced that 24 colleges and universities will receive five-year grants totaling $35.3 million to implement programs to improve employment outcomes for their graduates. Made possible through a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the UNCF Career Pathways Initiative is a program geared toward historically Black colleges and universities and predominantly Black institutions to enhance career readiness and increase employment opportunities for students.
Know of any other HBCUs with great plans for 2017? Share in the comments below!
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