LESSONS FROM NORTH CAROLINA’S HBCUS: EMPOWERING BLACK ADULT LEARNERS
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Posted By: Catalina Deossa on July 25, 2024 North Carolina's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have a distinguished legacy of catering to adult learners with a profound commitment to their unique needs. Currently, the state is striving to achieve a 66% overall attainment rate among adults aged 25-44 by 2030, leveraging the contributions of its ten accredited HBCUs. Progress in college degree and certificate attainment for students of color is evident, though significant equity gaps persist. As of 2022, Black adult attainment in North Carolina slightly exceeds the national average at 37.2%. In 2021, the Lumina Foundation selected five North Carolina HBCUs—Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Winston-Salem State University, and Shaw University—for its HBCU Adult Learner Initiative. This initiative has empowered these institutions to expand their capacity in supporting adult learners. Efforts have focused on enhancing data infrastructure, refining onboarding processes, bolstering adult student services, and deepening institutional leadership's understanding of adult learner needs. The initiative has yielded promising practices identified by Lumina's evaluation partners at the UNCF Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute. These practices include implementing flexible attendance and assignment deadline policies, conducting specialized orientations for Black adult learners, and appointing dedicated advocates to assist adult learners, particularly at the director or associate director level. Recommendations from the participating HBCUs emphasize the importance of establishing dedicated offices and positions for adult learner support, integrating adult learners into strategic planning processes, and fostering interdepartmental collaboration to enhance adult learner success. The impact of these initiatives is tangible across North Carolina. For example, Fayetteville State University has introduced programs to reduce tuition costs and ensure seamless credit transfers, benefiting adult learners significantly. Beyond academic support, North Carolina's HBCUs provide a safe and supportive environment that nurtures Black students' racial identities and lived experiences. They contribute significantly to the state's educational landscape, awarding approximately 43% of Black undergraduate degrees and thereby making a substantial economic impact. Overall, the success of North Carolina's HBCUs in advancing adult education underscores their pivotal role in promoting inclusive, equitable, and high-quality learning environments. Armed with fresh insights and data, these institutions continue to lead by example, setting standards for inclusive education and serving as beacons of opportunity for learners across the nation. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Catalina Deossa
Archaeologist, CHRONOS SAS Florida Int`l Univ class of 2011 Member Since April 2024 |
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