Campus News - Page 10

HBCU Funding Fight Puts First-Generation Students at Risk

 With a 2.0 high school GPA, Xavier Hickman thought college was unattainable. But mentors in the TRIO Upward Bound Program challenged him to not limit himself. A low GPA didn’t have to block him from going to the next level. Hickman’s family didn’t have much, and the program was designed for students in exactly that situation, helping them prepare for college and, in his case, introducing him to Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis’ only historically Black college. Yet, that chance at a higher education was nearly ripped away earlier this spring. The 19-year-old, now a rising junior at Harris-Stowe, was

Howard University Commencement Draws Attention

A proud Howard moment meets a public reaction Howard University commencement became one of the most talked-about HBCU moments of the week after Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser received a mixed reaction during her keynote address at the university’s 158th Commencement Convocation. The ceremony took place Saturday, May 9, on The Yard, where Howard University celebrated the Class of 2026 and conferred more than 3,100 degrees during Mother’s Day weekend. The day included Howard’s historic Long Walk, proud families, university leaders, and a graduating class stepping into the next phase of its journey. But the national conversation quickly shifted after parts of the crowd

Grambling State President Martin Lemelle, One Of The Youngest HBCU Presidents Ever, Is Reimagining What An HBCU Can Be

Grambling State University is a long-standing institution with a young leader. When Martin Lemelle took office as Grambling’s 11th president in 2024, he was the second-youngest president in the school’s history and the youngest head of any HBCU at the time. As Grambling celebrates a milestone in its history, Lemelle, who holds a doctorate in business administration, sat down with Blavity to discuss the university’s academic and economic achievements, the school’s reaction to new technology and opportunities, and the roles that Grambling and other HBCUs play in their communities. Embracing technology, expanding financial security “I think ‘inflection point’ needs a broader term now,

HBCU commissioners show support for the SCORE act

The commissioners of the four HBCU conferences in Division I and Division II have been vocal over the past couple of years about federal legislation regarding NIL. On Monday, the commissioners continued their lobbying of Congress by sending a letter to the Congressional Black Caucus showing their support for the SCORE Act. Reported by Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the letter comes as a few members of the Congressional Black Caucus have shown resistance to the bill. “While we understand that there is an ongoing vigorous debate about the various ways Congress can address the currently unsustainable state of collegiate sports, we still

HBCU looking to offer foster care students HOPE

Livingstone College is using its HBCU mission to target students aging out of foster care with a program built to remove barriers to higher education. The Salisbury, North Carolina-based institution is doing that through the H.O.P.E. Emancipation Project. The initiative offers a full support system for foster care youth who want to attend college but may lack the financial, emotional or family support that many students depend on. Qualified students can receive an investment of up to $35,000. That support can cover tuition, on-campus housing, a meal plan and coordinated mental health services. Students are also paired with a dedicated success

Miles College President Represents HBCU Excellence at Milken Institute Global Conference

Miles College, Birmingham’s only four-year Historically Black College and University (HBCU), sent its President to one of the world’s most elite finance and philanthropy conferences earlier this month to make the case for sustained HBCU investment. President Bobbie Knight represented Miles College at the Milken Institute Global Conference 2026 in Beverly Hills, California, delivering remarks and participating in a featured panel discussion, “Investing in the Resiliency of HBCUs,” held in the Astor Ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. The session was moderated by Ayesha Rascoe, host of NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday and Up First, and opened with remarks from Common, the Academy

HBCU Financial Grades ’26: Forbes grades the privates

HBCU financial health is under the microscope after Forbes released its 2026 College Financial Grades, showing major pressure across private colleges. The report paints a difficult picture for private higher education overall. Forbes reviewed more than 900 private nonprofit colleges with enrollment above 500 students. It said its 2026 formula was revamped with data from Perspective Data Science. The goal was to better measure “true liquidity” at each institution. That matters for HBCUs because many private historically Black colleges operate with smaller endowments, tighter cash reserves and less margin for error. Forbes described the broader private college landscape as facing a “near

Bowie State University to Lay Off Employees as the HBCU Faces an $18 Million Deficit

Bowie State University in Maryland has announced plans to cut 79 positions as the HBCU faces an $18 million deficit heading into Fiscal Year 2027, according to a letter sent to the campus community by President Aminta H. Breaux, Provost Guy-Alain Amoussou, and Vice President for Finance and Administration Manish Kumar. In fiscal year 2026, Bowie State addressed a $13.6 million shortfall without conducting layoffs. Instead, the HBCU implemented various cost reductions, delayed hiring, eliminated vacant positions, and developed process improvements to increase revenue. However, the fiscal year 2027 budget estimates an approximate $18 million deficit, due in part to “reduced state

HBCU Going Through Bankruptcy Looks To Sell $200M In Real Estate

St. Augustine’s University’s campus outside of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina A historically Black university in North Carolina is the latest in a series of small schools to fall on hard times. Amid Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, St. Augustine’s University is considering selling part of its 105-acre campus just outside of Downtown Raleigh. The university owes between $50M and $100M to creditors, ABC11 reported. Its real estate holdings are valued at $200M and include the main campus near Downtown Raleigh and other parcels in Greensboro, North Carolina, Rome, Georgia, and Lawrenceville, Virginia, the Triangle Business Journal reported. The main campus is encumbered by liens held by creditors, including the IRS.

North Carolina A&T Chancellor James Martin II Discusses Higher Ed’s Pivotal Moment

By Autumn A. Arnett As the Black Alumni Collective National Conference convenes on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus under the theme, “The Fierce Urgency of Now: Black Advocacy from Campus to Corporate to Congress,” Dr. James R. Martin II, chancellor of North Carolina A&T University, says that despite the setbacks of the present “post-DEI environment” higher education is staring down, he sees a historic opening for some institutions. The landscape has shifted, Martin argues — economically, technologically, and politically — and while institutions, their leaders, and their alumni cannot afford to respond slowly, Martin says he does see an opportunity for historically Black institutions to reassert their importance to the national agenda.

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