The Role of Hbcus in Higher Education

#HBCUs have long been the backbone of Black higher education. During the Trump presidency, there was a surge in applications among #HBCUs nationwide. As many predominantly white colleges & universities grapple with the Supreme Court's decision striking down race-conscious admissions, #HBCUs may need to accommodate even greater enrollment demands. These havens of Black Excellence are more important now than ever before. They must be given what they are due from both state and federal coffers so that they can continue the work of building the Black professional class. Quick Facts: - HBCUs enroll 10% of Black college students but confer 20% of Black bachelors degrees - HBCUs have produced 80% of Black judges, 70% of Black doctors, and 40% of Black congressmen and women (including VP Kamala Harris) - The nation's top producer of Black engineering degree holders is an HBCU - 9 of the top 10 schools that produce Black graduates who go on to earn PhDs are HBCUs

“I represent Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, October 3rd, 1887 WHAAAT!!!!” 🐍 Every chance I get, I tell people about the magic of FAMU, like recently when sharing we are now in the U.S. News & World Report Top 100 public universities. And like clockwork, I found myself having to defend the “honor” of FAMU and HBCUs alike against the education of a predominantly white institution (PWI). There is a misconception about the quality of the education of HBCUs and the network that exists in the “upper echelons” of professional circles. Many don’t know I went to West Virginia University (PWI) for graduate school. Don’t get me wrong, WVU served a purpose, but my experience at WVU was very different than FAMU. As we round out #NationalHBCUWeek, I want to take a moment to highlight the incredible significance of HBCUs. HBCUs are not just centers of higher education but pillars of resilience, empowerment, and change that continue to impact our society profoundly. Here are a few reasons why HBCUs are as crucial today as they were back at their founding: 🎓Cultivating Excellence and Leaders: HBCUs nurture talent, foster excellence, and produce leaders who have gone on to excel in various industries, from politics to business, entertainment to social justice. 50% of Black doctors and attorneys, 40% of Black engineers and members of Congress, and 80% of Black judges are HBCU graduates. 📚 Empowering Communities and Preserving History: HBCUs serve as beacons of hope, providing access to education and opportunity for generations of Black Americans, often in the face of adversity, funding, and other resources. As pillars of the community, they play a vital role in preserving Black history and culture. Walk on any HBCU campus and library, and you’ll see the rich tapestry and legacy of the generations often not preserved anywhere else. 🌟 Preparing Students With More Than Education: I am not going to pretend that the resources at PWIs don’t dwarf HBCUs, with recent reports showing that for every $1 invested in HBCUs, PWIs receive $4. This translates to more research opportunities, facilities, and other tangible assets. However, the intangible asset of attending an HBCU is just as valuable. The sense of belonging cultivated on a campus—where Black excellence is the norm instead of a scarcity as the mainstream conversations would have you believe—builds confidence that is greatly needed when you “enter the real world.” I knew FAMU prepared me to compete against “the best” in every room and role, and there isn’t a dollar amount I can put on that confidence. So thank you, and congratulations, FAMU—and other HBCUs—for continuing to be the beacon of light and beating the odds, though stacked against you.

https://lnkd.in/eepF_DEq “The second part of the study highlights the vital role of HBCUs in Florida’s higher education landscape. Most notably, the study found that there is a 40 percent increase in the probability of earning a bachelor’s degree when Black students enroll at an HBCU versus those who enroll at predominately white institutions. Additionally, Florida’s four HBCUs, including Bethune-Cookman University, Edward Waters University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and Florida Memorial University graduate more Black students in STEM disciplines than all other Florida universities combined. Furthermore, HBCU enrollment increases the likelihood an individual’s earnings will reside in Florida and surpass the 75th percentile of Black SAT takers by 2.7 percentage points (14 percent).”

New Goldman Sachs study shows how HBCUs have been (and likely will continue to be) more effective at creating upward social mobility for students from low income families than other educational institutions. The Supreme Court’s recent affirmative action decision is shining a new spotlight on the importance of HBCUs in addressing the needs of our communities and our country, and with more resources, they can do even more. Although I am a Harvard graduate, my father and my uncles are proud graduates of Bethune - Cookman University. The impact of and importance of HBCUs to the health and prosperity of our communities can not be overstated, and I am a product of their legacy. Harvard has served me well, but I also owe a debt of gratitude to B-CU. “The report, released last month, found that HBCUs help students from low-income families move into higher incomes at about twice the rate of other colleges and universities. The upward class mobility at HBCUs is even more notable considering HBCUs are less than 3% of colleges in the U.S. but account for 13% of bachelor’s degrees earned by Black students, and 20% of Black STEM graduates.” #hbcu #education #affirmativeaction #supremecourt #diversityequityinclusion