The HBCU Blues - Is The End Nearing For The Historically Black College?
Check out this proposal that is brewing down in Georgia. I'm not sure I'm feeling this plan at all, especially the ideology behind it. Yet, the reality is that the economy is going to be pinching the hell out of the entire higher education system and the hardest to be hit will be small, liberal arts, historically black colleges. Is this the best option for the survival of HBCUs? Doesn't the history of HBCUs have value? And will such a drastic merger of races, cultures, and campuses work? And if states are facing education budget shortfalls, why don't they target predominantly white institutions for cutbacks and leave the HBCUs alone?
Black folks need to keep an eye on this situation, this proposal could trigger a chain reaction with several HBCUs across the country. Other than the well-known handful of HBCUs that are holding their own academically and financially, this severe economic downturn could really signal the end of an era for many historically black colleges.
10 comments:
I'm currently attending the HBCU Florida A&M University there had been talks for years about combining it with Florida State University. We already share an Engineering school with them. Hopefully this will not happen.
"Other than the well-known handful of HBCUs that are holding their own academically and financially, this severe economic downturn could really signal the end of an era for many historically black colleges."
I hope not!
We must stand up for our HBCU's across the country. Who else is going to look out for some of the interests of Black young people. As far as merging, well HBCU's have never discriminated against anyone who wanted to attend regardless of Race.
Jaycee
I really wonder what is going through the heads of the alumni when they hear these stories?
It's getting closer by the day where this situation is becoming a "catch-22". You got historical value/culture on one hand, then you have intergration on the other. While HBCU's help those who wouldn't normally attend college, it gets to where you HAVE to associate with others outside of the culture in SOME aspect.
I don't know. I'd like to see HBCU's continue their work. Who knows when we can get to a point in time and say we don't need this type of thing. Then again, I'm sure there will still be quite a few HBCU's still open after that fact.
I don't want to see the HBCU's terminate. A few years ago my daughter was @ Clark Atlanta when Morris Brown,Spellman and Moorehouse were faltering. The schools did some consolidating and kept some things independent and eliminated others, thus keeping the overall history of the schools. Clark Atlanta is in itself a result of mergers years before the current crisis. I support keeping the schools separate I think for the most part because of the 'unique' experience @ HBCU's... but not so separate that they become extinct.
HBCU's are only 1% of American colleges and universities but graduate just under 25% of Blacks who go to college. Destroy HBCU's, you destroy one of the most successful facilitators of urban upward mobility. HBCU's need to ban together and make some sort of fundraising plan. They are not only "unique," they have proven themselves vital to the creation of the Black educated class.
!GO PIRATES! (Hamptonion)
ok, i love hbcu's.
i graduated from one then went to another one to rec' my teaching certificate and validation from the state of nc to be a p.s. teacher. wouldn't trade it for anything!
some of these colleges have fallen into the hands of greedy selfish people that stole money and jackedup! many depts in said colleges. there are a few in nc that fit in this status--almost shut the entire school down for their love of power and money! fools!
some hbcu's have bounced back--slowly but surely--but are still struggling to maintain a solid foundation.
one that i know of-in nc right now has lost their lic to function within the sacs org of nc colleges. i don't know the details of why they lost their sacs accredidation--i think i knew but forgot--at any rate--it is very sad for the students that attend there as their work is for naught--it the degree is not official.
the smaller ones seem to be loosing black professors (those that decided to work at one) at an alarming rate--and some have 'not so good' presidents working at them--everybody can't run a college--esp when they don't have the educational background to do so--ok, let me stop before my disappoinment really starts to come out concerning certain hbcu presidents. lol
i know loosing any of the hbcu's are a huge mistake for our community. many students would not be able to go to college if it were not for an hbcu accepting them in. and many of them go on to become very well established people in our society.
i was also told--undergrad-go to an hbcu--anything else--go where ever you can get in. (not true for everyone i know)
a black student can't get the foundation structure that is needed going to a white school. it's nothing you can really list--it just Is what they offer to us.
i pray for the hbcu's and their continued existance in order to educate those that would not be able to get into a white college. we truely need them!
thanks PT for keeping everyone in the know about this topic--it is VERY important!
*sidenote* i won't get on my soap box concerning a certain 'bishop' in Ga that connected with an nc hbcu to educate his worshipers long distance--?? (aren't there a boat load of colleges in Ga that he could have gone to-or maybe they turned him down)-and the MESS the college made in creating this collaboration. Hot mess! on this 'bishops' part and the part of some of the people that worked at the college. they are still trying to figure out how the mess got started and whos to blame for it.
stuff like this brings down the credibility of the college when a few people live for greed and have a lack of good work ethics.
everybody hurts....
@M-D
that is a Very Good idea. i agree with you on that.
i wonder if their individual fights for stability and the natural survival tatics would be able to be put to rest in order to come to the table and form such a group that would fundraise for them as a collective?
it is worth a chance, but someone has to have the courage to make the first move...lolo God will part the waters!
lol
but i can see clearly how it would be able to work and the hbcu's would be able to not jsut survive but live in a higher form of freedom.
@ wisdomteachesme: I'm sorry but when you said that about the pirates I have to say this:
Go Rattlers! We beat you guys in football this year! Okay out of fan mode. LOL
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