For nearly 50 years, the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) has served as the overarching advocate for all 105 historically Black colleges and universities and 91 predominantly Black institutions (PBIs), working behind the scenes to ensure its member institutions receive their share of federal and state funding and contract opportunities. But as NAFEO’s 50th anniversary approaches, some people — including its board members — say it is time for the organization to get a facelift because a strong, national advocate for HBCUs is needed now more than ever.
“If NAFEO didn’t exist today, it would have to be created,” says Dr. Leonard Haynes III, senior director of institutional services at the U.S. Department of Education. “When it comes to higher education policy at the federal level, an advocate’s voice is important. Absent that, you don’t get the attention the community deserves.”
NAFEO’s member institutions certainly need attention. Their leaders know that effective advocacy can attract billions in public grants, program funds and contracts for their institutions. But getting and keeping policymakers’ attention in today’s environment isn’t easy.
Competition in the advocacy arena is stiff. NAFEO shares the landscape with several highly motivated peer associations that are all using strategic communication to push their agendas — a tactic NAFEO falls short on. With its outdated website, limited social media capacity and occasional troubles communicating about events, NAFEO is at a competitive disadvantage.
“NAFEO needs to put the resources into having a more robust advocacy agenda,” says Anita Estell, a lawyer and longtime HBCU advocate with the Polsinelli firm in Washington, D.C. “The model of advocacy they’re using is dated. We are in a new environment, and it requires new tools.”
In today’s environment, HBCU advocates must push the idea that these institutions are not obsolete. Earl Richardson, former president of Morgan State University who remains an active champion of NAFEO, notes some HBCU skeptics on Capitol Hill are African-American. These doubters often lack personal experience with Black institutions and, unless they have HBCUs or PBIs in their district, they may have no political motivation to support them. Richardson says a stronger NAFEO could help educate these and other Americans about the contributions HBCUs and PBIs are making to the nation’s overall education goals.
