Value of HBCUs is Apparent when talking with Alumni of Closed Institutions

The New York Times published an interesting article in late June, "‘Your Heritage Is Taken Away’: The Closing of 3 Historically Black Colleges," by Wadzanai Mhute. 

While Mhute initially references the struggles facing Bennett College in North Carolina and Pennsylvania's Cheyney University, the article focuses on the sense of support and feeling of community voiced by alumni of three HBCUs that closed, Concordia College in Selma, AL [1922-2018], Morristown College in Morristown, TN [1881-1994], and Saint Paul's College in Lawrenceville, VA [1888-2013].

You can read more about each of the three closed institutions by reviewing post on the College History Garden blog:

Concordia College

• Saturday, February 24, 2018 Concordia College Alabama will Close

Morristown College

• Saturday, October 30, 2010 Morristown College (TN)
• Monday, October 31, 2016 Morristown College (TN) Campus Purchased

Saint Paul's College

• Thursday, August 30, 2012 Saint Paul's College (VA) #1
• Monday, May 13, 2013 Saint Paul's College (VA) #2
• Friday, May 31, 2013 St. Paul's College (VA) #3
• Sunday, December 28, 2014 President of Saint Paul's College Recognized
• Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Museum and Archives Maintains Memory of Saint Paul's College

Overwhelming Support Emerges for Bennett College

The Greensboro (NC) News & Record and their education reporter, John Newsome, are providing excellent coverage of the unfolding situation for Bennett College after the institution learned in late 2018 that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges had voted to take away its accreditation.

"Standing with Bennett: Embattled Greensboro college attracts nationwide attention – and money" was published on January 7, 2019 and Newsome's reporting presents a detailed view of the situation and the overwhelmingly positive and supportive responses from Bennett's many friends, students, and alumni.  The article is accompanied by links to other recent relevant articles and contact information for anyone interesting in providing support.

Faculty and administrators at Bennett have been making significant changes for a number of years and it is evident through Newsome's articles that there is a strong commitment to keep the institution open and continue serving students.

 You can also link back to an earlier Small College Garden post that links to the January 2016 issue of Business North Carolina with reporting by Allison Williams, "Bennett College is Featured...Impressive Changes over the past Decade."

John B. King Urges Support for HBCUs

The Baltimore Sun published an op-ed, "HBCUs contribute to our nation's prosperity--past and future."  John B. King Jr., former U.S. Secretary of Education in the Obama administration and president and CEO of The Education Trust.  The opinion piece was published February 25, 2018.

King shares a number of examples of HBCU and their service to the nation.    He then concludes, "The work before us to support black students’ success is about giving our children the freedom to choose to become whatever they dream they can be. In doing this work, we can be confident that we are building upon a legacy of past achievements led by many of our nation’s HBCUs and their graduates."

Series on HBCUs in the Atlanta Journal Constitution

The Atlanta Journal Constitution offers a series of articles and other resources, "HBCUs: A Threatened Heritage...a project studying the health of the country's historically black colleges and universities."  

Update:  Mary Schmidt Campbell, Spelman College president, posted a letter on the college website taking exception to the series, "SpelmanPresident Responds to the Inaccurate Portrayal of HBCUs by The AtlantaJournal-Constitution."  Campbell argues that the series served as a "...concerted and prolonged assault on historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs)."

A sampling of the articles, databases, and podcasts linked from the initial AJC series page follow:

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  Tale of 2 HBCUs: One enjoying a boom, one fending off doom

  
  
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  Perilous times for black colleges

  Two years ago, Amelia Smith received the one thing she thought she always wanted – a blue envelope from Spelman College. She had been accepted to what many consider the finest black college in America.
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  Map and database: Comparing the health of HBCUs

  This map gives the location, size and vital statistics for each of 101 accredited historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). See below for a searchable database of the schools, including data from 2005 and 2010.
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  17 HBCUs that didn’t make it

  Several others, including Knoxville College, Barber-Scotia College and Morris Brown College, with only 55 students enrolled, remain open in name only after having been stripped of their accreditation.
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  A&T: An HBCU powerhouse rises in Greensboro

  It was the week before Thanksgiving, and Aggie Stadium was awash with blue and gold.
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  Morris Brown: How one of Georgia’s first HBCUs fell into bankruptcy

  Morris Brown, the first HBCU in Georgia founded by black people, has been open since 1881 but filed for bankruptcy in 2012 and currently has only 55 students enrolled. Moments from the school's history.
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  WATCH: Morris Brown is still open

  Despite losing its accreditation, Morris Brown College, a once prominent HBCU apart of the Atlanta University Center, is still striving to educate young adults. Here how two students came to the decision to attend the college.
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  Listen to their journeys on the AJC’s special podcast

  Historically black colleges and universities create moments that change lives, and the AJC is telling those stories with its “HBCU Journeys” podcast. 
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  WATCH: What it means to attend an HBCU

  The AJC asks alumni at Clark Atlanta University's 2017 homecoming why they chose to attend an HBCU and why they would recommend the experience.
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  WATCH: HBCU Journeys on iTunes Now

  Preview the AJC's newest podcast, "HBCU Journeys," as our reporters interview graduates and students of black colleges to learn what makes those historic schools unique.
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  WATCH: Five things to know about HBCUs

  Historically black colleges and universities are facing more challenges than ever. Here's a quick look at what's at stake for HBCUs.
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  6-year graduation rates at many HBCUs lower than 20 percent

  In analyzing federal data for an in-depth examination of the nation’s historically black colleges and universities, the AJC found that the six-year graduation rates at 20 schools were 20 percent or lower in 2015.
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  Listen to the “HBCU Journeys” podcast

  In this ten-part series, our team of reporters Rosalind Bentley, Eric Stirgus and Ernie Suggs dig into the heart of what makes an HBCU experience so unique through candid interviews with graduates and students whose lives were changed by those historic schools.
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  HBCU alumni: Business, education and innovation

  Photos and bios: Graduates of historically black colleges and universities who have made their marks as educators, scholars, business leaders, scientists and innovators.
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  HBCU alumni: Arts, entertainment and sports

  Photos and bios: Historically black colleges and universities have produced some of this country’s most revered artists, entertainers and athletes.
• 

  HBCU alumni: Politicians and civil rights leaders

  Photos and bios: Historically black colleges and universities have produced some of this country’s most revered politicians and civil rights leaders.
• 
  

Fisk University Creates Center for Financial Advancement

The Tennessee Tribune published an article, "Center for Financial Advancement to Launch at Fisk," on August 30, 2017, that provides details of a new campus initiative that will begin operation this fall.  The center intends to focus on money management skills by teaching students about credit and home ownership.  As a side benefit, students will be positioned for careers in the finance, banking, and mortgage industries. 

The center arises from a collaboration between Wells Fargo, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), Bank of America, and HomeFree-USA, a HUD-approved non-profit organization that specializes in homeownership development, foreclosure intervention and financial coaching.

Fisk University is located in Nashville, TN and enrolls more than 740 students.

Paul Quinn College: 1st HBCU and 1st urban institution to receive 'Work College' Designation

Renee Yan reported on March 22, 2017 that "Paul Quinn Becomes First Historically Black College to be Designated a 'Work College.'"  The institution also indicates that it will be the first urban Work College.  You can visit the Paul Quinn College website for more information on the Work Program.

You can also review previous posts on the Small College Garden that feature Paul Quinn College:

• Small College Garden: PBS Series Features Paul Quinn College this ...https://smallcollegegarden.blogspot.com/.../pbs-series-features-paul-quinn-college.htm...Sep 16, 2016 - President Michael Sorrell and students of Paul Quinn College were interviewed by Hari Sreenivasan as part of the Rethinking College series ...
• Small College Garden: Paul Quinn College and Michael Sorrell are ...https://smallcollegegarden.blogspot.com/.../paul-quinn-college-and-michael-sorrell.ht...Aug 30, 2016 - Connolly interviewed Sorrell and a number of students to provide details of how the vision of Paul Quinn as an urban work college plays out in …
• Small College Garden: Paul Quinn College featured at American ...https://smallcollegegarden.blogspot.com/.../paul-quinn-college-featured-at-american.htm...Oct 31, 2015 - Read more about changes at Paul Quinn College on the American RadioWorks website in an excellent post by Samara Freemark, "The ...
• Small College Garden: Paul Quinn College's Community Gardening ...https://smallcollegegarden.blogspot.com/.../paul-quinn-colleges-community-gardening.h...Sep 18, 2015 - ESPN's Wayne Drehs has an interesting post and a video with Antonietta Collins interviewing President Michael Sorrell of Paul Quinn College.
• Small College Garden: Paul Quinn College Plans to Become Work ...https://smallcollegegarden.blogspot.com/.../paul-quinn-college-plans-to-become-work...Feb 18, 2015 - Paul Quinn College is pledging to become a Work College according to reporting by Bobby Blanchard for The Texas Tribune on February 17, ...

Huston-Tillotson University Featured for Raising its Community Profile

Colette Pierce Burnette, president of Huston-Tillotson University, is interviewed by Kate McGee of Austin's NPR station, KUT 90.5.  The segment, "East Austin Is Growing And Huston-Tillotson Hopes Its Roots Keep A Community Intact," highlights initiatives designed to raise the profile of the institution by building stronger links to the communities it serves.

Huston-Tillotson traces its roots to Samuel Huston College and Tillotson  College.  The two institutions merged in 1952 to form Huston-Tillotson  College.  The name was later changed to Huston-Tillotson University in 2005.

Virginia Union University Expands Physics through New Resources and Partnership

Colleen Flaherty reported this week on the reintroduction of physics at Virginia Union University (VUU) in Richmond, VA for Inside Higher Ed.  Flaherty's article, "Physics Revival at Virginia Union," describes the rationale for emphasizing the major when it is under pressure on some other campuses across the country.  She highlights the work of professor Shaheen Islam who secured a grant from NSF and is recruiting students for the program.  VUU also invested significant resources and a joint 3+2 physics and engineering program was created with Howard University.

The Richmond Free Press covered the ribbon cutting for the new physics lab on July 13, 2016, "New physics lab, majors at VUU."  You can also visit the VUU web site for more information.

PBS Series Features Paul Quinn College this Week

President Michael Sorrell and students of Paul Quinn College were interviewed by Hari Sreenivasan as part of the Rethinking College series for the PBS Newshour.  Sreenivasan explores how students prepare for a career while gaining a liberal arts education at the nation's first urban work college.  "The Texas college where students grown into workers," segment initially aired on September 12, 2016. 

You can also follow earlier Small College Garden posts linking to other articles and interviews that focus on Paul Quinn College.

Small College Garden: Paul Quinn College featured at American ... Oct 31, 2015 ... Read more about changes at Paul Quinn College on the American RadioWorks website in an excellent post by Samara Freemark, "The ... smallcollegegarden.blogspot.com

Small College Garden: Paul Quinn College and Michael Sorrell are ... Aug 30, 2016 ... Paul Quinn College in Dallas, TX and president Michael Sorrell are featured in the September/October issue of Washington Monthly. In "Labor ... smallcollegegarden.blogspot.com

Small College Garden: Paul Quinn College's Community Gardening ... Sep 18, 2015 ... ESPN's Wayne Drehs has an interesting post and a video with Antonietta Collins interviewing President Michael Sorrell of Paul Quinn College. smallcollegegarden.blogspot.com

Small College Garden: Paul Quinn College Plans to Become Work ... Feb 18, 2015 ... Paul Quinn College is pledging to become a Work College according to reporting by Bobby Blanchard for The Texas Tribune on February 17, ... smallcollegegarden.blogspot.com

Paul Quinn College and Michael Sorrell are featured in Washington Monthly

Paul Quinn College in Dallas, TX and president Michael Sorrell are featured in the September/October issue of Washington Monthly.  In "Labor of Love," reporter Matt Connolly focuses on Sorrell's New Urban College Model.  Connolly interviewed Sorrell and a number of students to provide details of how the vision of Paul Quinn as an urban work college plays out in practice.

The New Urban College Model developed over time to focus on students as they acquire what is needed to succeed professionally and to do so in a way that is affordable and helps elevate surrounding neighborhoods and the institution itself.  The model received quite a bit of publicity from the College Board, The Hechinger Report, and other outlets in early 2015 when Paul Quinn announced that students would be able to graduate with less than $10,000 in college loan debt.

Paul Quinn College was founded in 1872 and is affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Embracing Wellness at Spellman College

Spellman College's new wellness center was featured by NACUBO's Business Officer magazine in the February 2016 issue.  Spellman vice presidents Robert D. Flanigan and Darnita R. Killian authored the article, "Wellness Center Promotes All Types of Fitness."  Brenda Dalton, Spelman's director of health services and wellness is also quoted in the article noting that data on students supported the new focus.

Flanigan and Killian note that the wellness center is part of a comprehensive strategy after Spellman decided three years ago to discontinue participation in intercollegiate sports.  The college decided that a new center and wellness curriculum, "Embracing Wellness for the Health of It," would reduce sedentary lifestyles.

Paul Quinn College featured at American RadioWorks

Read more about changes at Paul Quinn College on the American RadioWorks website in an excellent post by Samara Freemark, "The reinvention of Paul Quinn College."  The page includes a link to a podcast that is part of the larger series on HBCUs, The Living Legacy Black Colleges in the 21st Century.

Paul Quinn College's Community Gardening Initiative Featured on ESPN

ESPN's Wayne Drehs has an interesting post and a video with Antonietta Collins interviewing President Michael Sorrell of Paul Quinn College.  President Sorrell discusses the institution's community farming initiative and their plans to open a restaurant and grocery store that will serve the surrounding neighborhood.  

Paul Quinn was founded in 1872 in Austin, TX as Connectional High School and Institute.  It was founded by pastors and is affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.  The institution moved to Waco, TX in 1877 and assumed the name of Waco College.  The name was changed to Paul Quinn College in 1881.  Paul Quinn made another move in 1990 and currently operates on the campus of the former Bishop College.

Forbes Features Small Colleges and Entrepreneurship

Liyan Chen's article, "How Liberal Arts Colleges Reinvent Themselves As Startup Factories," was posted on the Forbes website on July 29, 2015.  Entrepreneurial programs at Middlebury College, Colorado College, and Hampshire College are highlighted.  It is great to have small colleges featured in this way and for readers of Forbes to see a tie between liberal arts and entrepreneurship.

There is also a link to a ranked list of the 50 Most Entrepreneurial Colleges.  This ranking was constructed by calculating "...entrepreneurial ratios – the total number of alumni and students who have identified themselves as founders and business owners on LinkedIn, divided by the school’s student body (undergraduate and graduate combined)."  

I quickly pulled the fall 2014 f.t.e. enrollment numbers from IPEDS.  Bennington College with a rank of #4 is the smallest institution with enrollment of 735 and Villanova at #45 is the largest with 8,960 f.t.e.  The mean enrollment for the list was 2,296 f.t.e. and the median f.t.e. was 1,897 students. 

While I can criticize a ranking based on one variable, it is still fun to explore the list a bit further.  Three of the institutions on the Forbes' list are women's colleges, Smith College at #19, Mills College at #22, and Wellesley College at #47.  There is one HBC&U institution, Morehouse College with a rank of #5.  And, Westmont College at #10 is the only member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCC&U).

I also offer two quick suggestions for others constructing this type of list in the future.   Information on the initial pool of institutions will really be helpful.  Also, please check the list to make sure you tag all institutions where there might be confusion...I have no way of knowing whether the Union College ranked at #31 is located in Kentucky, Nebraska, or New York. 

Hopeful Signs that Wilberforce University Turned a Corner

Recent initiatives at Wilberforce University are featured in an article by Peter Jacobs for Business Insider on April 27, 2015.  Wilberforce University President Algeania Freeman, who had previous experience at Martin University and Livingstone College, is seeing some positive signs after arriving to assist the campus community in efforts to retain accreditation.