National Resource: Historically
Black Colleges And Universities
By N , JOYCE PAYNE j ?
Special to the Chronicle
Historically black public colleges can be traced
back to 1837 when a Quaker group in Philadelphia*
established Cheyney State College, which in 1983
became Cffeyney State University of Pennsylvania. At a
1 time of great controversy and social struggle, Cheyney
? State University became a potent force, challenging elit
ism in American higher education. The creation of high
er education institutions exclusively for African
Americans was an Outgrowth of a tenaciously segregat
ed society. ' , / ^
This unparalleled time in history also influenced
passage of the Morrill Acts of 1862Ta^i^907 tfie TatteF
of which led to to the creation of black land-grant insti
tutions exclusively for African-Americans. Today, the
rich legacy of the land-grant tradition remains promi
nent on the campus of 17 public black colleges and uni
versities. / ? ' ?
. The most striking testimonial to the resiliency and
value of the nation j^37 historically black public institu
tions is the prominence of leaders they have produced.
They include the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood
Marshall, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania; Barbara
Jordan, former member of U.S. House of
Representatives, Texas Southern University; Jesse
Jackson, former presidential candidate and civil rights
leader. North Carolina A&T State University; the late
Ronald McNair, astronaut. North Carolina A&T State
University; and the late Congressman George '"Mickey"
Leland. Texas Southern University.
Few people know that the University of Arkansas at
? Pine Buf4- iiav produced more African-AmericaniUegis
lators, businessman, educators, dentists, doctors and
army officers than the combined totals of all higher edu
cation institutions in the state. More than 55,000 stu
dents have graduated from the prestigious Tuskegee
University, and Florida A&M University is second to
Stanford University in attracting National Merit
Scholars. .
Public black colleges and universities have per
formed what Ino other social institutions could accom
Former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan attended
Texas Southern University.
r
plish. While enduring the injustices of society, these
institutions have provided exemplary role models;
served a a fertile source of professional leadership; and
fostered an unyielding commitment to academic excel
lence, social equality and the assurance of a decent
future for students from the lowest economic strata of
the nation. .
Each year, these institutions educate more than 54
percent of the African-American who go on to graduate
school and beyond. With limited fiscal resources and
facing nearly insurmountable odds, public black univer
sities have made great strides in building highly compet
itive academic programs in engineering, business, math
ematics, computer sciences, environmental. sciences,
nursing and journalism. Thev possess broad expertise in
teaching, research, technical assistance and extension or
public service. , ?
Consider what historically black public colleges
accomplish each year despite limited fiscal resources.
The nation's 37 public black institutions annually enroll
more than 170,000 students constituting over 70 percent
of all students enrolled in historically black four-year
colleges and universities (HBCUs). In 1993, enroll
ments increased by more than seven percent and nearly
32 percent of all baccalaureate degrees awarded to
. Former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall,
the first black to serve on the nation's highest court ,
attended Lincoln University of Pennsylvania.
Afri cart- A men cans came f r ut nh is tork-ttH yklaek public ?
colleges and universities (HBPCUS). Thirty-two of the
43 historically black colleges listed as the top producers
of baccalaureate degrees conferred in 1989 were
HBPCUs.
These institutions are in the forefront of educating
youths who are at risk, providing research vital to the
quality of life and the environment, and addressing the
social and economic needs of both urban and rural com
munities. Teaching, research and extension remain
prominent on these campuses. ^
Historically black public colleges constitute some
Of the largest and most prestigious systems of higher
education in the nation: _ ? -
? Jackson State University is producing the largest
number of African-American graduates in computer sci
ence in the nation.
? Alabama A&M University has established a $1
million endowed chair in physics.
? Florida A&M University offers a Ph.D. in phar
macology and has six advanced degree programs in
^pharmacology and chemical and mechanical engineer
ing.
Annually, six public black colleges produce nearly
20 percent of all African-American bachelor's degree
recipients in engineering and graduate over 70 percent
of all black recipients of bachelor's degrees in agricul
tural sciences. Tuskegee University alone has trained
more than Xl) percent ot the nation's black veterinarians.
The growth of new course offerings, as well as
expansion of areas of specialization, indicated continued
support of the "tradition of excellence" at thpse rnllegps
Today, historically black public colleges offer over
1,1.00 different majors including nearly 230 programs
leading to master's degrees. Information systems man
agement, architectural engineering, airway science,
biotechnology and fisheries biology are just a few of the
new majors. I
Seven of the top ten black institutions in- the nation
contributing to the production of African-Americans
doctorates are historically black public universities with
Florida A&M University, Morgan State University,
Tennessee State University, and Southern University
ancLA&MXoliege among the top five.
If current trends continue, historically black public
universities of the future will offer a variety of opportu
nities at the Ph.D. level and beyond that will continue to
. strengthen the quality and quantity of teaching, research
and public service - while serving as economic instru
ments of the state and the nation.
* * * * *
(Dr. N. Joyce Payne is director- of the Office for the ?
Advancement of Public Black Colleges , an information
and advocacy officethat administers the Thurgood
Marshall Scholarship Fund . a merit scholarship pro
gram that provides full four-year scholarships to stu
dents attending 37 historically black public college and
universities involved with the fund. This is the first col
umn in a continuing series on higher education in the
African-American community.) * ,
The Rev. Jesse Jackson attended N.C. A&T State University.
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