No stranger to belt-tightening during tough economic times, presidents from two of Maryland’s historically black colleges attended a public hearing Wednesday to press their case for why the schools need more money.
The hearing came on the heels of a report outlining the financial and technological deficiencies that exist between Maryland’s historically Black institutions and the state’s predominately White institutions.
The report, released by a six-member Panel on the Camparability and Competitiveness of Historically Black Institution in Maryland, acknowledged that Maryland’s HBCUs have long been neglected by the state over past years and called for more state funding to bring the schools on par with the state’s traditionally White institutions. But the chair of the Maryland General Assembly’s Affordability Committee cautioned that any new funding for Maryland historically black institutions would be scarce given the state’s current budget woes.
Little discussion about the state’s budget constraints or the worsening economy – and how each might impact black colleges – came up during Wednesday night’s hearing that lasted two hours.
Dr. Mickey Burnim, president of Bowie State University and Dr. Reginald S. Avery, president of Coppin State University in Baltimore both testified at the hearing.
Sitting in the well-appointed student center of the University of Maryland at College Park, each president talked about dilapidated facilities at the state’s historically black colleges as well as the needs of their respective institutions.
“Programs and facilities are inextricably linked,” Burnim said. “We hope there will be consideration given to the need to re-examine our capital priorities and accelerate capital projects. I believe this is the only way to make the historically Black institutions truly comparable and competitive.”
