Obama Says HBCUs Are Failing Students, Others Say First Black President Is Failing HBCUs

Although President Obama gave a well received speech on race over the

weekend in Selma, leaders at historically black colleges, as well as some black lawmakers, say the president needs to put some action behind his lofty words.

  

President Obama touts achievement in the black community, but his policies have actually hurt HBCUs. Blacks were hit hardest during the recession and HBCUs have felt that impact.

HBCUs, which serve a disproportionate number of poor students, have found themselves cash strapped and Obama’s policies have only worsened the financial solvency of HBCUs.


BreakingBrown reported extensively on Department of Education policies that hurt HBCUs, such as PLUS loan changes, but Obama doesn’t view it that way.


During a meeting between Obama and black lawmakers, Obama said HBCUs need to graduate more students without burdening them with loans. Some lawmakers who attended the meeting said Obama didn’t have sympathy for the plight of HBCUs.


“The president thinks that HBCUs — and there may in fact be some — are failing our students,” said Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio), who attended the meeting from Obama, according to the Washington Post. “But there needs to be an open dialogue about higher education and why HBCUs have historically gotten short shrift when it comes to resources and recognition.”


HBCU leaders were also critical of the Obama administration’s position on HBCUs.


“We are not consulted when it comes to policy changes and decisions impacting — in a major way — the institutions on whose behalf we are to advocate,” Hampton University President William Harvey said during the February board meeting. “Overall support to black colleges is down.”


Howard University’s president recently questioned why Obama is willing to have the government pay community college tuition, but not that of HBCUs.


“HBCUs constitute three percent of America’s colleges but produce 20 percent of black graduates, 50 percent of black public school teachers and lawyers, 80 percent of black judges, and 90 percent of black BA’s in STEM fields.,” according to The New Republic.