Nearly one month ago, February 25th, marked the 180th anniversary of Cheyney University. Cheyney University, originally established in 1837 as the African Institute, was the nation’s first institution of higher education for African Americans. Over its 180-year existence, Cheyney University has produced leaders who have helped to ensure tremendous strides in the academic and professional trajectories of African Americans. The historic university boasts several notable alumni including Rebecca J. Cole (1863), the nation’s second African American woman physician, and Julian Abele (1896), the University of Pennsylvania’s first African American architecture student and designer of some of the country’s most iconic buildings.
As we celebrate and recognize the myriad societal contributions of Cheyney University and many other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), it is imperative that the alumni and supporters of HBCUs commit to preserving the legacies, progressing the missions, and promoting the relevance of these institutions. The nation’s political and social landscapes are rife with uncertainty; however, our commitments to preserve, progress, and promote will play a huge part in sustaining these institutions’ health and positive impact. HBCUs such as Cheyney University have long been incubators for African American scholars and leaders. They have historically been and continue to be safe spaces in times of political and social turmoil while simultaneously encouraging and feeding the intellectual curiosities of thousands of our nation’s citizens. Such institutions are responsible for many African American attorneys, judges, doctors, entrepreneurs, teachers, and the preparation of highly successful and productive citizens.
We must continue to take seriously our obligation to maintain excellence within our institutions. As we aim to do this, HBCU alumni and stakeholders must hold our institutions accountable to “prepare confident, competent, reflective, visionary leaders and responsible citizens.” Such holistic attention to students’ preparation will continue to ensure that historic institutions such as Cheyney University remain invested in the empowerment, academic attainment, and economic mobility of America’s historically marginalized communities.
As we aim to preserve the rigor and standards of excellence of HBCUs, we must prioritize financial giving. In 2012, the data reported that 20% of American colleges and university alumni gave back to their alma maters. This number is fairly large considering that 5 to 7 percent of public HBCU alum and 9 to 11 percent of private HBCU alum donate to their alma maters. Alumni-giving contributes to scholarships for incoming students, programs, innovation, and development. Building and maintaining institutional excellence requires financial contributions from alumni, supporters, and other stakeholders. Such gifts are integral to institutional preservation and the ability to provide quality education to students.
As HBCU alumni and HBCU supporters, we must also acknowledge that our nation and the fabric of our higher education institutions are changing rapidly. With the rise of social enterprise, entrepreneurship, and other innovative approaches to problem solving, many of the nation’s colleges and universities have developed wholly new methods to fundraise, retain students, and deliver differentiated curriculum and programming. As bastions of progress and productivity for nearly two decades, it is imperative that HBCUs follow the trend of innovation and continue to find ways to progress their institutional visions and mission with solution-oriented approaches and strategic innovation.
We must also move our HBCUs forward by holding them accountable to thoughtful and ethical leadership. Many HBCUs have encountered high turnover in their administrative and board leadership for a myriad of reasons, including unethical board practices and presidential unpreparedness. HBCU alumni and stakeholders must demand and uphold high standards for institutional leadership. Extreme turnover rates resulting from internal personality differences and inflated egos are unacceptable, as HBCUs are missioned on the principles of community advancement and high quality education for students. The collective vision for institutional progress must outweigh personal disputes and disagreements.
While HBCU alumni and stakeholders enhance giving and solution-oriented approaches to preserve and progress our institutions, it is also important that we continue to promote the current relevance of HBCUs. Such institutions were born in an era of racial tension and seemingly insurmountable educational inequality. As an increasing number of African American students at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) are confronted with hostility and overwhelming discrimination, HBCUs remain integral and necessary educational institutions. Beyond providing a safe space and support from racial tensions of the present, these institutions also continue to provide quality education to students. In 2014, 8% of college-going African American students attended an HBCU. Of this percentage, according to the United Negro College Fund’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute, HBCUs graduate low-income African American students at a rate 14% higher than non-HBCUs. With such a high success rate, we must continue to support and promote our nation’s HBCUs.
As we celebrate HBCUs’ phenomenal history and triumphs over the past 180 years, let us also commit to preserving, progressing, and promoting the health and future of these incredible institutions for centuries to come.