In the face of financial and other hurdles, HBCUs have had an outsized impact on African-American success. HBCUs resourceful past points to an innovative future.
Organizations can establish long-term investments in HBCUs, to everyone’s benefit. Students who attend these schools gain the skill development they need to succeed, and companies nurture the talent they need to strive and become successful. Industries also collaborate with an array of organizations that bolster HBCUs and their talent.
-Doing More With Less
HBCUs have demonstrated they can innovate to produce an exceptional talent pipeline. Their track record reveals remarkable achievements in preparing the future workforce, despite significant challenges. A substantial financial disparity among higher-learning institutions put HBCUs at a real disadvantage. Compared to other institutions, HBCUs really rely on government funding and see much less revenue per student.
-The Great Funding Imbalance
Public HBCUs rely heavily on government funding and operate on less than other colleges. Back in 2017-18 revenues for public HBCUs ($5.4 million) were only 1.3% of revenues for public non-HBCUs $403.7 million). The revenue differences are stark on a per-student basis too; just over $24,000 for public HBCUs, compared to about $39,000 for public non-HBCUs! Add to those numbers the stark reality that HBCUs have faced declining enrollments, reduced funding, fewer degrees given, and the closure of some institutions.
Note: HBCUs represent only 3% of the nation’s educational institutions, yet they have educated 1/2 of black doctors and lawyers.
Yet despite having substantially fewer financial resources, HBCUs as a group have accomplished a great deal. True to their mission of advancing African-American students, they have produces a large percentage of diverse professional from their ranks.
-Working With HBCUs on Technical talent Develop
Both the public and private sectors need to be more proactive in hiring and training top talent.
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