Campus News

Radio Preservation Project held a return ceremony for Central State University’s historic radio station

Courtesy of Central State University In the community room of WYSO’s new Dayton Street station, radio history came back home. On Wednesday, May 13, the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Radio Preservation Project held a return ceremony for Central State University’s historic radio station, WCSU 88.9, celebrating the formal return of digitized archival audio from the Wilberforce station to the institution that created it. Gathered for the celebration were WYSO and HBCU Radio Preservation Project staff, Central State representatives, WCSU alumni and community members. The HBCU Radio Preservation Project team collected 11 oral history interviews with folks connected to

Ohio’s oldest private HBCU expanding to address student housing crunch

WILBERFORCE, Ohio — Ohio’s oldest private historically Black university is making major changes to its campus while students are out. It’s expanding as it faces a growing demand for student housing. After 170 years of history, you have to take a tour to see the future of Ohio’s oldest HBCU. In the next five years, Wilberforce University’s entire footprint is expected to get bigger, but that expansion comes as the university faces another housing challenge. For years, some students were living in dorms leased from neighboring HBCU, Central State University, but that’s about to end. “They won’t have any place at

Sifford Scholarship Committee: Names 4th cohort of 12 HBCU students

The Sifford Scholarship Committee has announced the fourth cohort of Sifford scholarship awardees, a group of 12 exemplary HBCU students selected from a competitive pool of applicants. The Sifford Scholarship Fund was established in 2022 in honor of the legendary and trailblazing Dr. Charles “Charlie” L. Sifford – the first Black golfer to earn a PGA TOUR card in 1961. The Sifford Scholarship was created to help fund college costs for students who attend a Historically Black College or University and students focusing their education on a golf management program. The Cobbs Creek Foundation in Philadelphia serves as the fiscal

Morgan State Students Win National AI Innovation Challenge With SocialSense AI

Morgan State AI innovation is getting national recognition after a team of student innovators won first place in the 2026 PROPEL Center Future of Tech Innovation Challenge with an artificial intelligence-powered app designed to help students manage social anxiety and build stronger communication skills. The winning team, known as Team HAX Lab, represented Morgan State University and earned the $35,000 grand prize for SocialSense AI, a privacy-first app that uses artificial intelligence to analyze social interactions and give users personalized feedback. The app was designed to help college students and others become more confident during real-world conversations. The students competed against HBCU teams

FAMU Scores Major Legal Victory In $2 Billion Underfunding Lawsuit

The FAMU underfunding lawsuit is moving forward after a federal appeals court revived claims alleging that the State of Florida has underfunded Florida A&M University by nearly $2 billion over several decades. In a major legal victory for current FAMU students, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that a lower court acted too soon when it dismissed the case. The appeals court did not decide whether Florida discriminated against FAMU or whether the state is legally responsible for the alleged funding gap. Instead, the court ruled that the students’ claims were strong enough to survive dismissal and continue

Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones speaks against HBCU AI data center

Tennessee Representative Justin Jones is adding his voice to the growing opposition against a proposed AI data center at HBCU institution Fisk University. Jones, a Fisk University alumnus, recently joined protesters on campus as community members continue to raise concerns about the school’s proposed Innovation Center. The facility is part of Fisk’s larger “Quantum Leap” master plan, which the university describes as the most robust campus plan in its 160-year history. The proposed Innovation Center would be 100,000 square feet. It would include a 70,000-square-foot technology center and a 30,000-square-foot academic space. But Jones and others say the project raises serious

HBCU Presidents Announce Collaboration To Expand Research And Innovation

By Dr. Deborah Bailey Leaders at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the nation have declared an initiative to invest in the future of research and discovery. Fifteen of America’s HBCUs high-capacity research institutions have announced the Association of HBCU Research Institutions. The umbrella organization has a mission to expand world-class research, accelerate innovation, expand the influence of HBCUs in research policy circles, and strengthen the institutional infrastructure of HBCUs and reinforce research capabilities. The Association of HBCU Research Institutions (ARHI) held its formal launch April 29 at Howard University. Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, who serves as interim president of

He designed sneakers for Jordan, Melo. Now he’s revived an HBCU to teach the next generation

Staring down the company suggestion box at LA Gear, 19-year-old D’Wayne Edwards sketched a sneaker on a 3-by-5 notecard, signed his name and dropped it in the box. The next day, a different idea, and a different illustration, went in. Never mind that the Inglewood, Calif., native had no formal design education or training, or that his high school guidance counselor had dismissed his design dreams, telling him he’d be better off focusing on the military. Who cared that his job, as a file clerk in the accounting department of the trendy lifestyle brand, had nothing to do with design?

What to know about the data center planned for Nashville HBCU Fisk University’s campus

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Nashville area is already home to more than two dozen data centers and more have been proposed — including one at Fisk University. The HBCU announced plans in May for the data center as part of its $1 billion “Quantum Leap” initiative. The plan, described by the university as “the most robust campus master plan in its 150-year history,” includes an innovation and technology center. While the university does not describe it as a data center, the functions described are the same. “The Quantum Leap Innovation & Technology Center is a 100,000 square foot facility on the southern

Revived lawsuit claims Florida underfunded FAMU by nearly $2 billion

Florida A&M University supporters scored a significant legal victory this week after a federal appeals court revived a lawsuit alleging the State of Florida underfunded the university by nearly $2 billion over the past three decades. In a split decision issued Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that a lower court acted too quickly when it dismissed claims that Florida failed to fully eliminate the effects of segregation in higher education. The ruling does not determine whether Florida discriminated against FAMU. However, it allows the lawsuit to move forward and gives plaintiffs another opportunity to

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