Issues, Questions & Answers - What's in it for HBCUs?
There has been significant discussion regarding free tuition
for Higher Education and what the implications are to HBCU's. Both Hillary
Clinton & Bernie Sanders have indicated in broad strokes their intentions to help HBCU's as
part of their proposed Higher Education packages, but little with respect to
details has been discussed - at least in the public forum.
As I watched the recent Democratic debate in Miami, it occurred to me that the core of the discussion was on what our Democratic candidates would actually do (details) to support immigration reform to the benefit of the Hispanic/Latino communities in an attempt to earn their vote. I also have observed that the biggest differentiation in votes between Hillary and Bernie is the African American vote. We voted in greater numbers (>80%) for Hillary in South Carolina than we did for the first African American President - Barack Obama. I think we can all agree - That's commitment.
This will be the third election (technically second) in a
row where African Americans are determining who will be the democratic nominee
and most likely the next President of the United States. Where are the specific
programs that benefit our community for Social Justice and most relevant to my
expertise - Higher Education?
As a former HBCU President that has supported Hillary
Clinton, with all the talk of free tuition and what the perceived implications
are to both Public and Private HBCU's, I can't in good conscience watch without
asking, where is our communities debate or public discussion on the higher
education of African Americans, in particular HBCU's? I read that Bernie would
provide free tuition to all public Colleges and Universities. How and what is
the implication to HBCU's? I also have read about Hillary's intent to set aside
$25 billion over 10 years for HBCU's. But how and to what end? What are the
focal points of this money? How does free tuition and set asides help HBCU's
not only survive but thrive and compete at world class levels? I think before
the primaries are over we need specifics on how each respective candidates'
platform helps one of the pillars of the African American community - The
Historically Black College and University (Public & Private).
Highlights of critical issues that need to be discussed in
detail:
1. Providing free tuition + Pell Grants to Pell eligible
students - this would solve the issue of favoring Public over Private HBCU's.
2. Public/Private Models to incentivize student preparation
for "High Paying" jobs in the STEM Fields with HBCU's as a key
incubator of talent.
3. Endowment Grants through federal matching programs that
enhance private contributions to HBCU's that support African American students
in the STEM fields.
4. Lastly, this may be the most critical issue to be
discussed - The Validation and Verification on the progress of desegregation
agreements between the (Southern) States and the Office of Civil Rights,
Department of Education resulting from the "Adams Case". Almost every
state in the South is backsliding - not so quietly - back into separate but
equal status.
Our community is watching, waiting and ready to listen to
detailed plans to support HBCU's with as much vigor as any other major issue
plaguing any other voting group.
Dr. Frederick S. Humphries
Former President, Florida A&M University, Tennessee
State University, Former Chairman, President & CEO of NAFEO and Former
Chairman of the Board, NASULGC (Now APLU)