Complete College America (CCA) is making the connection between the potential of student success at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and investment in cutting-edge technology.
In a newly released report, "Critical Connections: Funding HBCUs’ Digital Infrastructure is Essential to Meeting U.S. College Completion Goals,” CCA calls on state policymakers to increase investment in the digital and physical infrastructure at HBCUs.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need to invest in digital infrastructure, but technology was crucial in identifying and addressing student needs well before 2020. With digital learning being a front-runner in many institutions’ long-term strategy, the report advocates for funding so that HBCUs in particular can leverage technology while retaining the personalization that is central to their success.
Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva
“Unfortunately, what we were hearing from our alliance members who were at HBCUs, and predominantly Black institutions and community colleges was that their literal functionality with hardware and software was difficult to navigate,” said Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva, President of CCA, in an interview with Diverse. “It was not because the leaders or the practitioners or faculty members in these institutions weren't tech savvy or didn't care…It was about funding.”
According to research from UNCF (United Negro College Fund), HBCUs comprise 3% of the nation's colleges and universities, but enroll 10% of all Black students and produce almost 20% of all Black graduates in the United States, as mentioned in CCA’s report.
“HBCUs have been the leaders in ensuring on-time [college] completion of Black and brown students for centuries, so enabling them with tech resources will only enhance and exponentially increase those capabilities,” said Watson Spiva. “We're not asking for investment to take place in our pilot…this is about demonstrated competencies that have been there for years, decades, and centuries.”
The report also noted the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential influence on higher education services. CCA believes that well-funded institutions can accelerate with new resources, ultimately leaving HBCUs and community colleges behind.
