Dive Brief:
- The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ second annual HBCU Student Success Summit drew more than 100 presidents, deans, chancellors and other faculty from colleges and universities across the country.
- Bowie State University President Mickey L. Burnim advised historically black colleges and universities to develop a niche that can help them thrive amid fierce competition.
- The summit also helped college leaders brainstorm ways to improve student retention efforts and get more students through their degree programs.
Dive Insight:
Historically black colleges and universities face the same budget concerns that other small higher education institutions have faced with increasing competition for students and shrinking investment from public sources. Most HBCUs have also enrolled a larger portion of low-income students, who are less able to pay full tuition and more likely to drop out. This student population is part of the reason why HBCUs are overrepresented on a financial watch list the Department of Education released in April. Historically black colleges and universities are not, however, a monolithic group and many are thriving in the current environment.