Many HBCUs closed over the last three decades and many are in serious trouble financially and in terms of leadership.
Here to discuss this issue is President William B. Bynum Jr. of Mississippi Valley State University.
Q: First, what would you say has been the principle function of HBCUs in the last three decades and what, on a related issue, do you think have been the particular challenges to these types of institutions in the United States?
A: We know that HBCUs were created to deal with the educational gap that existed in the African-American community and to maintain segregation. What is little known, though, is that HBCUs have always been open to and granted access to other races. However, the principal function has been to make sure that there’s an educated population within the African-American race and to make sure that opportunities for upward mobility were afforded to African-Americans. I think Americans knew that it would be in the best interest of the country to have an educated Black citizenry. That’s why HBCUs were created and continue to exist today.
The major issues that are facing HBCUs ― the challenges ― are the low enrollments that we are seeing now. Only 3 percent of Blacks who are choosing higher education are choosing HBCUs. That number is significantly down from where it was pre-1970 before PWIs [predominantly White institutions] began admitting large numbers of Black students.
We’ve come under fire because of our published graduation rates and how we are faring against other types of institutions with greater resources. That has been a challenge. However, whenever those facts and figures are given, they never account for the fact that HBCUs are dealing with a mostly first-generation college population.
