HBCU Best Practices
HBCU Best Practices
Junious Ricardo Stanton
“While HBCUs today look quite different from the schools
that were founded in the 1800s, HBCUs now find themselves in a continuing
conversation on whether these institutions should exist in a post–Brown v.
Board of Education and post-Obama environment. The relevancy of HBCUs has been
the subject of academic inquiry, and many media outlets recently have raised
the question of the continued existence of these institutions. Some believe
that HBCUs are a remaining vestige of segregation, and many cite the
opportunity for African Americans to now attend all institutions of higher
education-unlike at the time of the founding of HBCUs. The financial exigency
in many states are making leaders take a look at the increasingly scarce
funding for higher education, and states are taking a hard look at the future
of financing HBCUs. States and the federal government have also placed a
renewed focus on accountability, and HBCUs have been criticized for their
performance on the metrics used to evaluate all higher education institutions.
Simply put, the world of higher education is changing.” Repositioning HBCUs for
The Future Access, Success Research and Innovation Association of Public and
HBCUs are
facing a myriad of challenges they didn’t anticipate or contemplate two years
ago such as the health and public safety concerns around the pandemic and
nation wide lockdowns. Funding shortages, low alumni giving and the ongoing
question of the relevance of HBCUs were issues that needed resolution even before
the pandemic turned
The history of HBCUs is one of resilience, perseverance, adaptation and innovation often during times of extreme hostility towards African-Americans amidst socio-economic and political volatility. HBCUs had to survive apartheid, virulent racism, color caste and oppression as well as events like the Great Depression and the recession of 2008.
US Higher Education in general suffered during the Great Depression, enrollments declined, there were professor lay-offs, endowments decreased, construction dropped, fundraising was difficult and this reality was far worse for HBCUs. “The Great Depression and World War II left many Black colleges in a financial crisis. Despite improvements in funding in previous years, most land-grant HBCUs were still dismally underfunded when compared to their White counterparts. Private HBCUs were in an even tougher bind. The Depression had wiped out many of their sources of philanthropy. Fundraising was becoming very difficult and distracted administrators from issues of improving education. In 1943, Dr. Fredrick D. Patterson, president of the Tuskegee Institute, published an open letter to the presidents of private HBCUs urging them to band together, pooling their resources and fundraising abilities. The next year, the United Negro College Fund began its activities soliciting donations to private HBCUs, with far greater efficacy than any one of its member colleges alone.” Historically Black Colleges and Universities a Proud History http://www.hbcucouncil.com/HBCU-s.html
The innovative thinking of
The good news is there are abundant opportunities for HBCUs to rebound and thrive even during times like these. HBCU leaders have to be willing to be candid about their situation and be optimistic they can guide the institution forward. The worst thing an HBCU president can do is lie to his administrative staff, faculty, alumni, constituents and the general public. The second worst thing is to exaggerate the college or university’s situation. Honesty is the best policy.
HBCUs need leaders who can employ and integrate best practices such as: sound fiscal management, networking and partnering skills both internally and outside the university. HBCU presidents need to have a good relationship with their Trustees, have a sound vision for the institution and be able to engender the support needed to execute that vision, they need a competent administrative team, an effective external affairs department, a comprehensive fundraising strategy and support staff, have a visionary Provost and faculty, a good working relationship with alumni and other constituents and have a positive presence in the surrounding community.
The future can be bright for HBCUs even in these turbulent times. We will continue to examine the good, bad and ugly of HBCUs.
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posted by Junious Ricardo Stanton @ 8:10 AM
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