As President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris transition into office, a new report analyzes the administration’s proposed education policies, specifically those that impact historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Despite enrolling over 300,000 students and graduating 25% of all Black bachelor’s degree earners, many HBCUs remain underfunded and under-resourced, according to the report.
“[HBCUs] play a critical role in evolving a diverse society,” said Dr. Hakim Lucas, president and CEO of Virginia Union University (VUU). The university’s Center for the Study of HBCUs produced the report. “Research shows that HBCUs graduate more Black professionals than primarily White institutions. There are many promising proposals in the new administration’s agenda — but there is a long history of broken promises and inequitable treatment when it comes to HBCUs.”
The six Biden-Harris administration policies highlighted in the report aim to increase federal Pell Grants, create Title I programs for postsecondary education, develop more research opportunities at HBCUs, build infrastructure, reduce debt and promote graduate program expansions as well as advance student success.
Dr. Terrell L. Strayhorn, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at VUU and the author of the report, emphasized that investing in Black colleges translates to “educational opportunity for all.”
“When you invest in HBCUs, you are investing in raising up the average level of education in all 21 areas where there are HBCUs,” he said. “You are increasing economic development for all those areas. You are stimulating minority-owned businesses because a vast majority of those HBCUs have business programs. Many of those graduates go on to own businesses that actually exist right in the neighborhood where they studied.”
Around seven million students receive Pell Grants per year in order to subsidize the cost of their education. Under a $30 million investment, the administration plans to double the Pell Grant’s current value of $6,345. With the increase, the cost of in-state tuition would be covered at 67% of HBCUs, according to the report.
