Black colleges often fail their students
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Posted By: Jehan Bunch on November 12, 2007 Black colleges often fail their students At three of the five HBCUs in Virginia, more than 70 percent of the entering freshmen do not graduate. By B. DAVID PECK THE U.S. NEWS and World Report’s ranking last month of the nation’s best Historically Black Colleges and Universities is a depressing reminder of how poorly Virginia’s African-American students are served by these anachronistic schools. At three of the five HBCUs in Virginia, more than 70 percent of the entering freshmen do not graduate. Only Hampton and Virginia State did better. Because the ranking and the criteria used to compile the list were determined by the presidents and administrators of the black colleges, there is no way to compare the education received by these graduates with all the other colleges. In the September/October issue of the NAACP magazine, Crisis, black educators comprehensively critique the HBCUs. Considering that they describe many problems that threaten the survival of these colleges, their suggestions for reviving them are sophomoric. “The to-do list is fairly clear,” the academic leaders say. “Schools need to learn how to market and recruit in this highly competitive post segregation era.” The presumption is that HBCUs can improve their chances of survival if they better communicate their socalled unique ability to educate African Americans. But the applicants need reassurance that if they attend those universities, they will be able to compete in our ever more technologically advanced society; they will be able to contend for the best jobs; and after receiving a diploma, they will be equipped to build and sustain a middle-class standard of living. Until most of the HBCUs can demonstrate that they can provide a competitive educational product, better marketing will not enable them to defend their abysmal record. The implication is that prospective applicants can be enticed by the empathetic environment found at these black universities, a renowned athletic program or testimonials from famous alumni. An anecdote in the same Crisis article should dispel this notion. It reports that when 3,576 scholarships, averaging $10,000, were awarded to black students, less than 25 percent of them chose to attend an HBCU. If the students’ decisions were influenced by their African-American parents or guidance counselors, why did three-quarters of them not choose an HBCU? These intelligent consumers were dismissive of banal mission statements and could care less whether or not these hoary institutions survive. They were prepared to commit their time and resources, but only if the colleges could prove that the students’ education is their top priority. During my six years on the Board of Visitors at Norfolk State University, considered one of the “best” HBCUs by U.S. News and World Report, it was clear the students’ education was not the top priority. The needs for more effective teachers, for resources dedicated to remedial education and for better management of the financial resources were apparent. At my last meeting with then-President Harrison Wilson in the late 1970s, he did not deny that other priorities were, to him, at least as important as the individual student’s education. He emphasized the significance of non-academic programs to the alumni and for the prestige of the college. As for the replacement of ineffectual teachers, department heads who continued to fail to achieve accreditation, and dismissal of incompetent administrators, he told me, “If we did not employ these folks, they could not get similar jobs at other state colleges.” When my resignation was reported in the newspaper, then-Gov. Dalton asked me for an explanation. I told him that the president was primarily responsible and should be held accountable, and that the State Council of Higher Education provided no oversight. Continually underperforming colleges should be closed; and the funds earmarked for those schools should be used instead to subsidize students who wish to attend a successful HBCU or a nearby statesupported college. The governor told me that no one from any other college — neither alumni, teachers nor administrators — had such complaints or would support my suggestions. In the 1970s, I failed to make a difference for the students at one HBCU. Thirty years later, according to the U.S. News report, the best HBCUs continue to lose many thousands of aspiring menandwomen before they have completed their studies. It is time to learn why so many African-American freshmen who sought to continue their educations did not get what the colleges and the state promised to provide, and to decide what we intend to do about it. B. David Peck, of Richmond, was appointed to the Board of Visitors of Norfolk State University by Gov. Linwood Holton and reappointed by Gov. John Dalton in the 1970s. He served on the committee that selected President Harrison Wilson. In 2004, Peck endowed a scholarship at NSU in honor of Dr. Hugo Owens. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Jehan Bunch
From Columbus, OH Central State University class of 2005 Member Since January 2006 |
Comments
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I agree that as HBCUs we should expect to be held to a higher standard; however I don't think that HBCUs as a whole are underperforming. Black colleges average a freshman retention rate of 75-90% and a graduation rate of 55-75% which is consistent with PWCs of similar size, endowment, and selectivity. NSU has a retention / graduation rate of 66%/28%, which definitely leaves room for improvement. However, with a new president taking office this year, I'm curious to see what changes are in the pipeline. I agree that the social atmosphere of a HBCU cannot compensate for a weak academic programme. The most competitive HBCUs realized this long ago and invested strategically in their research and academic curriculae, which is why they are thriving (Morehouse, Hampton, FAMU, Clark) while others struggle. Others (Bennett, Philander Smith, etc.) are beginning the process now and hopefully more will do likewise. The purpose of an HBCU isn't to create a retirement plan for administrators and faculty; it is to prepare Black students for a competitive world. This means providing enterprise-class training and development for both students and faculty. We can't continue to study using last decade's technology and knowledge. It seems that some of our HBCUs get it, but others are just now waking up. We also need to let our students know that we expect them to step their game up! Tuesday, November 13th 2007 at 10:46AM |
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In Response to Mr. Peck By Dr. Barry Hoy, Ph.D. This letter is in response to a recent article by B. David Peck regarding the plight of the Historically Black College/University (HBCU). Mr. Peck is off base on several points. He begins by bemoaning a drop-out rate among students at HBCUs that is 70%. In point of fact this is only ten points higher than the nationwide drop-out rate of 60%. A 2002 comparison of Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University revealed that only four percentage points separated the annual attrition of the two schools. High college attrition is a point of concern but not a reason to close all of our HBCUs as Mr. Peck recommended to then Governor Dalton. Mr. Peck encourages HBCUs to focus on the quality of the student rather than the uniqueness of the learning environment citing an “abysmal record”. As a former manager in a major corporation in Virginia, I can state that we specifically targeted students from Norfolk State University for our internship programs because of the quality of the education coupled with the work ethic emphasized at NSU. Students from other local schools did not fair as well, consequently we avoided them. Mr. Peck goes on to defend his assertions by citing a statistic regarding scholarships awarded to African American Students. Mr. Peck was not specific regarding the nature of the scholarships stating only that only 25% of scholarship recipients chose to attend HBCUs. In the year 2005, there were 4,140 colleges in the United States that awarded at least a two year degree. Of those, only 113, or less than 3%, were HBCUs. When 3% of the schools can attract 25% of this segment of the population, it seems as though the message of quality may be getting through. In fact, some of those scholarships may have been structured in such a way as to prevent the recipient from choosing an HBCU. Mr. Peck did not say, so we will never know. In the 1970s, Mr. Peck was a member of the Board of Visitors of Norfolk State University. He seems to be basing his comments regarding NSU on opinions he formed nearly 40 years ago. A commitment to fairness and accuracy demands that he visit the campus now. He would find, for example, a brand new research center that includes a clean room for semiconductor device fabrication that boasts the highest standards in the Commonwealth. Numerous NSU professors, are world renowned for their work. The only Optical Engineering program in the Commonwealth has its home at NSU. The Robinson Technology Center has been completely renovated and includes an Intelligence Community - Center for Academic Excellence facility which is one of only ten in the nation. In this unique cutting edge facility, NSU students can distance learn in real-time with students from many other colleges around the world. In his article, Mr. Peck suggests a to-do list. Here are some facts to consider. NSU’s largest endowment in its 73 year history is $1,000,000 for a total endowment fund of about $13,000,000. In comparison, Old Dominion University’s College of Business and Public Administration, alone, works with an endowment of $13,000,000. ODU’s entire endowment account contains $184 million. Regent University’s endowment fund totals nearly $300 million. Norfolk State has an enrollment of roughly 5,000 full time equivalent students. By comparison, Swarthmore College, outside Philadelphia has an enrollment that is approximately one fourth that number. Swarthmore operates with an endowment of $1.3 Billion or roughly 100 times that of NSU. While it is difficult to compare NSU, a state supported school with Swarthmore, a private school, we must bear in mind that NSU’s support from the state declined this year erasing much of the progress the university experienced under the Mark Warner administration. State support is slated to decline again next year. Mr. Peck’s to-do list must include seeking additional endowment sources as an enabling priority. Mr. Peck’s encouragement to consider the students is well placed. NSU is an open campus. You, reader, owe it to yourself to visit for just an hour. You will find serious, intelligent, well mannered students. You will find a supportive and professional staff. You will find an enlightened faculty. You will find a school plant that one can point to with pride. NSU students are specifically sought for employment at General Electric. Cisco Systems may soon be including NSU on their list of targeted schools (The entire list includes only thirty colleges, nationwide). I sat only yesterday in a meeting of the Technology Department Advisory Board and listened to four intelligent, mature, energetic and enthusiastic men who will soon graduate. Each was virtually promised employment by board members. Mr. Peck complained of the failed leadership of then NSU President Harrison Wilson. He failed to mention that two presidents have held the post subsequent to Wilson’s departure. Perhaps Mr. Peck is unfamiliar with the strides that have been made in the intervening decades. President Wilson’s priorities were well known before he was hired and reflected both his perception of the needs of the students and the will of the board that confirmed him. In point of fact, Mr. Peck was a member of that board. If Wilson was a bad choice, who is to blame? Saturday, November 17th 2007 at 6:10AM |
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Dr. Hoy, thanks for your input, this does shed some light on things. I think that Mr. Peck's analysis was based on statistics that don't necessarily tell the whole story, as well as some negative personal experiences at NSU. Whether that translates to a " personal agenda" satifsfied by publishing this article... I'll leave that to everyone's individual judgment. As a Hampton alum, I had many friends and colleagues at NSU, all of whom were very talented and competent, and they spoke highly of their experiences at NSU. The question that remains: is the graduation rate a reflection of the faculty and administration, or rather external influences such as endowment, availability of financial aid etc.? I believe it is the latter. However, it should still be addressed, and I'm sure that the NSU administration is working diligently to improve 4-year retention. The article does reveal a major challenge for HBCUs over the next decade - are we making our value known? Or is it being shadowed by the misconception of hbcus' inability to compete? Sunday, November 18th 2007 at 11:41AM |
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