Lesson:The White House Initiative on HBCUs Lists 107 Institutions. According to the U.S. Department of Education: Historically Black Colleges and Universities and higher Education Desegregation (1991):

  • While enrolling only 20 percent of black undergraduates, HBCUs produce 40 percent of black engineers
  • The top 21 undergraduate producers of blacks with doctoral degrees were HBCUs
  • Students at the North Carolina Central University School of Law had the same first-time pass rate on the bar exam (81 percent) as students from the Duke University School of Law
  • HBCUs award 40 percent of all undergraduate STEM degrees
  • The top 30 HBCUs graduated the largest number of blacks who enrolled into STEM doctoral programs 
  • 40 percent of Congressmen, 50 percent of non-HBCU professors, 12.5 percent of CEOs, 50 percent of lawyers, and 80 percent of black judges are graduates of HBCUs

According to Diverse Issues in Higher Education

  • Spelman is the second largest producer of black college graduates who go onto medical school
  • Howard University boasts of having the highest concentration of black scholars in the world
  • Hampton University has a dress code and honor code
  • Tuskegee University has one of the oldest nursing programs in the country and is the only HBCU with a fully accredited College of Veterinary Medicine
  • FAMU has been ranked as the number one school in the country for black students who go on to attain doctorates in engineering and natural sciences
  • Jackson State University is one of two HBCUs considered “research intensive” universities and is the number one HBCU in receiving federal research funding. JSU is ranked the number two producer of blacks who go into teaching, and number four producer of blacks who go into biomedical and biological sciences

As presented in the Overview, students at HBCUs can broaden their experience through dual degree, domestic exchange, and foreign exchange programs:

  • California Community Colleges have transfer agreements with 21 HBCUs: http://extranet.cccco.edu/HBCUTransfer/Agreements.aspx
  • Howard University (DC): Exchange and other programs with Harvard, Duke, Smith, Southern Cal, Stanford, Vassar, Berkeley, Tufts, Reed, Mills, Grinnell, and Rutgers (Douglass College).
  • Spelman College (GA): 3-2 Engineering Programs with Georgia Tech, Auburn, Columbia, Cal Tech, Dartmouth, RIT, U. of Florida,  Rensselaer, U. of Alabama, and HBCU North Carolina A&T.  Pre-med with Boston University.  “12-School Exchange” Program with Smith, Vassar, Pomona, Mount Holyoke, Wellesley, Simmons, and others. Other
    exchange programs with Haverford, Grinnell, and U.  of California at San Diego.
  • Bethune Cookman College (FL): 3-2 Engineering Programs with U. of Florida and HBCUs Tuskegee and Florida A&M.
  • Morehouse College (GA): 3-2 Engineering Programs with Georgia Tech, Boston University, Auburn, R.I.T; 3-2 Architecture Program with U. of Michigan.  Exchange and other programs with Dartmouth, U. of Cal at
    San Diego, Columbia, Vassar, Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., and HBCU North Carolina A&T.
  • Morgan State University (MD): 3-3 pharmacy & 3-4 programs in pre-medical and pre-dental with U. Maryland (Baltimore). Exchange and other programs with Towson
    State, College of Notre Dame, Johns Hopkins, Groucher College, Loyola College, and HBCUs Coppin State and Bowie State.
  • Xavier University of Louisiana: 3-2 Engineering Programs with U. of Maryland, Georgia Tech, U. of Detroit, and HBCU Morgan State. 3-1 Medical and Dental Programs with Louisiana State University Medical School; 3-2 Business Admin. Program with Tulane.  Exchange programs with St. Michael’s Coll, and U. of Notre Dame.
  • Lincoln University (PA): 3-2 Engineering Program with NJIT, Penn State, and Lafayette College; 3-3 Engineering Programs with Drexel. 2-2 Nursing Program with  West Chester University; Nursing with Penn State (University Park). Exchange program in Journalism at Temple University. 2-2 Nursing program with West Chester U.
  • Fisk University (TN): Five-year B.A. and M. Bus.Admin. and B.A. and  B. Eng. program with Vanderbilt U. Dual-degree pharmacy and other programs with HBCU Howard U. Exchange Programs with Haverford, Oberlin,
    Pomona, and HBCU Florida A&M.
    Domestic Exchange Program
  • Spelman: http://www.spelman.edu/academics/special-academic-programs-and-offerings/domestic-exchange

According to the U.S. Department of Education:

Today, there are 107 HBCUs with more than 228,000 students enrolled. Fifty-six institutions are under private control, and 51 are public colleges and universities. The public institutions account for more than two-thirds of the students in historically black institutions. Most (87) of the institutions are four-year colleges or universities, and 20 are two-year institutions. In the past, more than 80 percent of all black college graduates have been trained at these HBCUs. Today, HBCUs enroll 20 percent of black undergraduates. However, HBCUs award 40 percent of baccalaureate degrees earned by black college students.

HBCUs are responsible for producing (Source: Post Secondary National Policy Institute):

  • 18% of ALL engineering degrees earned by African American students;
  • 31% of ALL biological science degrees earned by African American students;
  • 31% of ALL mathematics degrees earned by African American students;
  • 21% of ALL business and management degrees earned by African American students;
  • 42% of ALL agricultural science degrees earned by African American students; and,
  • 17% of ALL health profession degrees earned by African American students.

Research: Conduct your research based on your body of work and financial need.

Narrative: HBCU Options – The following instructions will guide you through expanding your narrative document.

Set up a new page in your Narrative Document with the following heading:

Name
Name of your Cohort
Narrative: HBCU Options
Day Month Year

Cut and Paste each of the following writing prompts into your Narrative Document.

Writing Prompt #1 – What is, or are, my primary reasons for considering attending an HBCU? Describe your primary reason for attending an HBCU. (50 – 150 words)

Writing Prompt #2 – Based on my body of work, i.e., grades, test scores, gifts and talents, etc., my research has revealed that I qualify for merit-based scholarships? If your research has revealed that you qualify for merit-based scholarships based on such areas as grades and test scores, athletics, or the creative arts, list the name of each institution, the scholarship for which you qualify (or are pursuing), and the amount of the scholarship. 

Writing Prompt #3 – Based on my grades and test scores I may not qualify for merit-based scholarships, so I am interested in attending an HBCU that is affordable or where I may earn a scholarship as an admitted student:If your research has revealed HBCUs that provide affordable options or that offer scholarships for current students, list each of the schools and why you believe yourself to be a good match to each of the schools.