2023 HBCU Conference, Gov. L. Douglas Wilder on Historic HBCU Funding Issues, Events
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This week the five-day annual 2023 National HBCU Week Conference is taking place in Arlington, Virginia, from September 24 to September 28. There will be exhibits, speakers and opportunities to join federal and private resources to assist the HBCU community.
White House Conference on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
The White House: U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Initiative) today welcomed institution executive leaders, faculty, students, and supporters to the 2023 National HBCU Week Conference being held in person at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia.
The annual National HBCU Week Conference is the nation’s premier convening of key influencers in the HBCU space. It is implemented under the leadership of the Initiative, in close consultation with the Executive Office of the President and U.S. Department of Education. The event provides a unique occasion for 3,300 representatives from HBCUs, federal agencies, private-sector companies and philanthropic organizations to participate and provide useful information and successful models to improve instruction, degree completion, and federal engagement —all of which strengthen the role of HBCUs.
RELATED: 16 states underfunded historically Black land-grant universities, Biden admin says (NBC News/Sept. 19, 2023)
This year’s theme is “Raising the Bar: Forging Excellence through Innovation & Leadership.” In his executive order reestablishing the White House Initiative on HBCUs, President Biden charged the Initiative to, “develop new and expand pre-existing national networks of individuals, organizations, and communities to share and implement administrative and programmatic best practices related to advancing educational equity, excellence, and opportunity at HBCUs.” This event will identify and target tangible opportunities that will connect federal and private resources to the HBCU community.
Conference speakers will include:
U. S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona
Mayor Stephen Benjamin, senior advisor and director of the Office of Public Engagement, The White House
Director of the Domestic Policy Council Neera Tanden, The White House
Members of the U.S. Congress
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg
Head of Contracting Authority (Acting) Benjamin Bryant, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Director Amy Jenkins, Mission Office for Health Science Futures, ARPA-H, NIH
Chief Scientist Victoria Coleman, Ph.D., U.S. Department of the Air Force (USAF)
NASA Astronaut Benjamin Alvin Drew, Jr. (Colonel, USAF, Retired)
There will be special performances by nationally recognized Black Greek-letter organizations, which are members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the Virginia State University Gospel Choir and more.
The full agenda for the 2023 National HBCU Week Conference can be found here. Open press portions are noted below and will take place in the Regency Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City.
Monday, Sept. 25: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., Raising the Bar: Forging Excellence through Innovation and Leadership.
Monday, Sept. 25: 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Forging Excellence Luncheon.
Tuesday, Sept. 26: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m., Excellence Through Innovation: The Administration & HBCUs.
Tuesday, Sept. 26: 12 p.m. – 1:45 p.m., Secretary Miguel Cardona will deliver remarks at the Forging Excellence through Innovation and Leadership Luncheon.
Wednesday, Sept. 27: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m., HBCUs and Business: Raising the Bar Closing Luncheon.
To RSVP for a specific event, please email pressrsvp@ed.gov
Gov. L. Douglas Wilder on HBCUs and Historic Underfunding
By L. Douglas Wilder, 66th Governor of Virginia: The acronym HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) is used to reference colleges that were available to educate Negroes during the years of legal segregation in America. Though most of these schools did not meet the standard definition of a university, they were nonetheless so referenced. A classic example exists right here in Virginia’s capital.
The University of Richmond met the standard definition; Virginia Union University (VUU) did not. The University of Richmond had several schools; VUU, at that time, had a school of religion and has always been so identified. Most HBCUs were chartered like VUU and required to state that they were private in order to comply with segregation. This classification was and still is used to deny state funding. The excuse was made by political leaders saying their constitutions forbade financial support. Unfortunately, it is still being used as an excuse for doing little, if anything, to fund HBCUs in Virginia.
The acronym HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) is used to reference colleges that were available to educate Negroes during the years of legal segregation in America. Though most of these schools did not meet the standard definition of a university, they were nonetheless so referenced. A classic example exists right here in Virginia’s capital.
The University of Richmond met the standard definition; Virginia Union University (VUU) did not. The University of Richmond had several schools; VUU, at that time, had a school of religion and has always been so identified. Most HBCUs were chartered like VUU and required to state that they were private in order to comply with segregation. This classification was and still is used to deny state funding. The excuse was made by political leaders saying their constitutions forbade financial support. Unfortunately, it is still being used as an excuse for doing little, if anything, to fund HBCUs in Virginia.
The acronym HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) is used to reference colleges that were available to educate Negroes during the years of legal segregation in America. Though most of these schools did not meet the standard definition of a university, they were nonetheless so referenced. A classic example exists right here in Virginia’s capital.
The University of Richmond met the standard definition; Virginia Union University (VUU) did not. The University of Richmond had several schools; VUU, at that time, had a school of religion and has always been so identified. Most HBCUs were chartered like VUU and required to state that they were private in order to comply with segregation. This classification was and still is used to deny state funding. The excuse was made by political leaders saying their constitutions forbade financial support. Unfortunately, it is still being used as an excuse for doing little, if anything, to fund HBCUs in Virginia.
The acronym HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) is used to reference colleges that were available to educate Negroes during the years of legal segregation in America. Though most of these schools did not meet the standard definition of a university, they were nonetheless so referenced. A classic example exists right here in Virginia’s capital.
The University of Richmond met the standard definition; Virginia Union University (VUU) did not. The University of Richmond had several schools; VUU, at that time, had a school of religion and has always been so identified. Most HBCUs were chartered like VUU and required to state that they were private in order to comply with segregation. This classification was and still is used to deny state funding. The excuse was made by political leaders saying their constitutions forbade financial support. Unfortunately, it is still being used as an excuse for doing little, if anything, to fund HBCUs in Virginia.
The acronym HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) is used to reference colleges that were available to educate Negroes during the years of legal segregation in America. Though most of these schools did not meet the standard definition of a university, they were nonetheless so referenced. A classic example exists right here in Virginia’s capital.
The University of Richmond met the standard definition; Virginia Union University (VUU) did not. The University of Richmond had several schools; VUU, at that time, had a school of religion and has always been so identified. Most HBCUs were chartered like VUU and required to state that they were private in order to comply with segregation. This classification was and still is used to deny state funding. The excuse was made by political leaders saying their constitutions forbade financial support. Unfortunately, it is still being used as an excuse for doing little, if anything, to fund HBCUs in Virginia.
The VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs will host the 2023 Wilder School Symposium, titled “HBCUs and the Absence of Support,” from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 28. There will be a panel discussion with:
● Bob Holsworth, former dean of the Wilder School and renowned political analyst;
The VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs will host the 2023 Wilder School Symposium, titled “HBCUs and the Absence of Support,” from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 28. There will be a panel discussion with:
● Bob Holsworth, former dean of the Wilder School and renowned political analyst;
We will explore the historical, current and future trends shaping the lack of investments in HBCU institutions. This event brings together key leaders to explore a vital discussion. It creates a tremendous opportunity for our students, campus community and the general public to learn firsthand the path to securing an equitable future for HBCUs in Virginia and America.
The majority of all Black doctors, dentists, lawyers and other professionals came through HCBUs such as Virginia Union, Virginia State, Hampton, Norfolk State, Howard, Morgan State, Lincoln, Morehouse, Spelman, Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina Central and Bennett, to name some of the more recognized schools.
Without the existence of VUU — currently ranked as the nation’s 39th best HBCU by U.S. News & World Report — I would have not been able to attain a college education. I would never have earned a law degree if Howard University were not there in the nation’s capital.
I will always be eternally grateful for all that has made my life more bountiful, because of HBCUs. We must ensure substantive, long-term investments to support their continued efforts.
This is not a Black or partisan issue, but it is critical to address and to make retroactive investments for past shortcomings.
There is a continuing need to educate the people of America about how our nation was built. They must come to know and to appreciate the continuing contributions of HBCUs and to assist and to preserve their heritage and importance to America.
Letter Regarding HBCU Funding to Gov. Youngkin
From Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona:
RELATED: The Government Finally Puts a Number on the Discrimination Against Black Colleges (The Atlantic/Sept. 2023)
“Unacceptable funding inequities have forced many of our nation’s distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities to operate with inadequate resources and delay critical investments in everything from campus infrastructure to research and development to student support services,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “I am continually inspired by all that HBCUs have achieved despite having to punch above their weight. Our HBCUs graduate a huge share of our nation’s Black educators, doctors, engineers, judges, and lawyers. These institutions and the talented, diverse students they serve must have equitable funding in order to reach their full potential and continue driving innovation. The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to have made record investments in our HBCUs, but to compete in the 21st century we need state leaders to step up and live up to their legally required obligations to our historically Black land-grant institutions.”
“Some of the brightest minds and most impactful advancements in food and agriculture have taken root in our country’s 1890 land-grant universities, and I’m incredibly proud of the partnership USDA maintains with these invaluable institutions. We need governors to help us invest in their states’ HBCU’s at the equitable level their students deserve, and reflective of all they contribute to our society and economy,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The documented discrepancies are a clarion call for governors to act without delay to provide significant support for the 1890 land-grant institutions in their respective states. Failing to do so will have severe and lasting consequences to the agriculture and food industry at a time when it must remain resilient and competitive.”
UPCOMING 👊🏽 in Black Virginia:
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