Through 1980, enrollment grew at HBCUs, but that has changed as more black students look to “traditional or mainstream” universities, said Richard Vedder, professor emeritus at Ohio University. The false perception is that the mainstream schools provide better programs or more opportunities upon graduation, which implies HBCUs are medium-to-low quality institutions.
Education programs have been shown to reduce the risk of recidivism, and the bill takes this a step further by allowing certain prisoners to accumulate “earned time credits” — up to 15 days for every 30 days of completed programming.
Providing leadership, lobbying, job recruiting, and scholarships, TMCF helps to groom the next generation of cultural leaders.
The summit is designed to provide students, teachers and administrators with an opportunity to “exchange ideas and earn skills through workshops on grant writing and career preparedness,” according to a press release issued by Jones’ office Monday.
Across more than 100 HBCUs around the country, historic buildings and sites—some more than 100 years old—have deteriorated over time and are at risk of being permanently lost if they are not preserved and protected. The bill would authorize funding for grants to restore these historic buildings and sites, as well as improve accessibility on many HBCU campuses.
Graham said that HBCUs have played a vital role in American higher education. “With their long, rich history, HBCUs have helped many students achieve their full potential,” he said.