Campus News - Page 14

The Continuing Sad Saga of Saint Augustine’s University

Following several years of declining enrollment, accreditation turmoil, and financial challenges, Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) in Raleigh, North Carolina, filed for bankruptcy in April. At that time, the HBCU also decided to end its ongoing legal battle regarding its status with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The university’s recent May 2026 graduates were the last students to receive accredited degrees from the institution. In a recent bankruptcy meeting, SAU’s board members were questioned on the university’s current financial state, which includes more than $8 million in outstanding funds to various federal agencies, according to a report

Lil Baby Pays Off Spelman Grad’s Student Loans

A Spelman College graduate just went viral for the best reason — and Lil Baby deserves every bit of the praise coming his way. Janay Lesley, also known as Nay Speaks, is a first-generation college graduate, aspiring rapper, and sickle cell disease advocate who recently revealed that Atlanta rap superstar Lil Baby paid off her student loan balance of $24,074.97 in full. The moment sent the internet into a frenzy — but what made the story truly special was the timeline behind it. Lesley first sent Lil Baby a direct message asking for help on April 8, 2022 — when

Spelman College Names Dr. Ayanna Howard Its New President — and the Future Looks Bright

Spelman College just made a move that the entire HBCU world is talking about. On Friday June 5, 2026, the Spelman College Board of Trustees announced Dr. Ayanna Howard as the new Spelman College president — the 12th person to lead the nation’s top-ranked HBCU. A world-renowned roboticist, AI pioneer, entrepreneur, and former NASA engineer, Howard will officially step into the role on August 1, 2026. She succeeds Interim President Rosalind “Roz” Brewer, a Spelman alumna who has led the college for the past 18 months following the departure of President Helene Gayle in late 2024. A Résumé Built for This

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

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