As institutions created to uplift Black people, accountability for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is more complicated than simply enrolling and graduating students.
Dr. Roslyn Artis, president of Benedict College.
As the world emerges slowly from the pandemic, experts say HBCUs will need to carefully build strategic plans and strengthen their storytelling skills.
“The reality is, when you govern through a crisis, the time for input and feedback and listening can be limited. We have to do what we have to do in the moment,” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, president of Benedict College, a private HBCU in South Carolina.
“Coming out of COVID-19, those are muscles we have to engage again. We need to be more thoughtful. To develop a strategic plan, objectives and outcomes and goals, requires everyone to have buy-in, to contribute, be thoughtful, understand the rules of engagement,” she added.
Dr. Charlie Nelms, chancellor emeritus at North Carolina Central University.
“A lot of things we call traditions are really bad habits,” Nelms told Dr. Jamal Watson, who moderated the discussion. “Just because we’ve done it that way, doesn’t mean it’s the most effective way. Planning is essential. I don’t think you can come up with an administrative plan alone, you have to have active engagement and involvement.”
