Historically Black Nursing Schools: Yesterday and Today
Back in the days when segregation was the law of the land, they opened doors of educational opportunity that produced generations of distinguished African American nurses. Today, HBCU nursing programs are building on that legacy to prepare the black nursing leaders of the 21st century. Today, 24 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) offer baccalaureate-level nursing programs. During the first half of the 20th century—and in some cases, even earlier—HBCU nursing schools provided a gateway into the profession for generations of African Americans nurses who had no other educational options. But when the Supreme Court struck down racial segregation in its Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, some people predicted that HBCUs would fade away.
After all, the nation’s 104 official HBCUs were founded because African Americans were not allowed entry into white-run colleges and universities. But when the doors to white institutions were thrown open and integration became the law of the land, some people asked: Why would black college students still want to attend historically black schools when they now have the freedom to enroll in majority schools? Are HBCUs even necessary anymore? The answer, more than a half century later, is that HBCUs have endured, continuing their historic legacy of providing an educational backbone for African Americans. And they have also evolved.
Meeting Financial Challenges
HBCUs’ relatively small endowments and high proportion of disadvantaged students mean that it is harder for them to weather the recession than wealthier schools. Howard’s Division of Nursing is bracing for lower enrollments for the 2009-2010 academic year, Hill says. “We don’t have the final numbers yet, but it’s looking like we’ll see a drop in enrollment,” she reports. Hammond says Hampton’s nursing school has managed to avoid cutting faculty, but “we won’t know the full [impact] of the recession until students arrive this fall.”
Holeman at Tuskegee notes that it is not yet clear how much funding HBCUs will receive from the Obama administration. The president’s education budget, released in May, didn’t include an extra $85 million that HBCUs have been receiving annually for the past two years. But Obama did raise other direct federal support to the schools from $238 million to $250 million and he increased the maximum Pell Grant by $200, to $5,550. Meanwhile, the federal stimulus plan includes more than $800 million for infrastructure projects on HBCU campuses and $500 million over two years for improvements in technology.
Reaching Out to New Students
Continuing their long tradition of increasing the number of African American nurses entering the U.S. health care system, today’s HBCU nursing schools are working hard to cultivate the next generation of potential students. For example, they are reaching out to girls and boys in local elementary and high schools, providing them with information about nursing careers and helping prepare them to meet nursing school admissions requirements. NCCU is collaborating with Durham Public Schools on a university- wide project called the Early College High School Program. This innovative fast-track program identifies promising high school students, assists them in preparing for college and lets them complete their bachelor’s degree in just two years. Nursing student Shana Blount was part of the first cohort of the accelerated program, entering the university last fall as a junior...
http://www.minoritynurse.com/minority-nurs...
After all, the nation’s 104 official HBCUs were founded because African Americans were not allowed entry into white-run colleges and universities. But when the doors to white institutions were thrown open and integration became the law of the land, some people asked: Why would black college students still want to attend historically black schools when they now have the freedom to enroll in majority schools? Are HBCUs even necessary anymore? The answer, more than a half century later, is that HBCUs have endured, continuing their historic legacy of providing an educational backbone for African Americans. And they have also evolved.
Meeting Financial Challenges
HBCUs’ relatively small endowments and high proportion of disadvantaged students mean that it is harder for them to weather the recession than wealthier schools. Howard’s Division of Nursing is bracing for lower enrollments for the 2009-2010 academic year, Hill says. “We don’t have the final numbers yet, but it’s looking like we’ll see a drop in enrollment,” she reports. Hammond says Hampton’s nursing school has managed to avoid cutting faculty, but “we won’t know the full [impact] of the recession until students arrive this fall.”
Holeman at Tuskegee notes that it is not yet clear how much funding HBCUs will receive from the Obama administration. The president’s education budget, released in May, didn’t include an extra $85 million that HBCUs have been receiving annually for the past two years. But Obama did raise other direct federal support to the schools from $238 million to $250 million and he increased the maximum Pell Grant by $200, to $5,550. Meanwhile, the federal stimulus plan includes more than $800 million for infrastructure projects on HBCU campuses and $500 million over two years for improvements in technology.
Reaching Out to New Students
Continuing their long tradition of increasing the number of African American nurses entering the U.S. health care system, today’s HBCU nursing schools are working hard to cultivate the next generation of potential students. For example, they are reaching out to girls and boys in local elementary and high schools, providing them with information about nursing careers and helping prepare them to meet nursing school admissions requirements. NCCU is collaborating with Durham Public Schools on a university- wide project called the Early College High School Program. This innovative fast-track program identifies promising high school students, assists them in preparing for college and lets them complete their bachelor’s degree in just two years. Nursing student Shana Blount was part of the first cohort of the accelerated program, entering the university last fall as a junior...
http://www.minoritynurse.com/minority-nurs...
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