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IBNN Editors note: The irony of the situation is – there’s a war against Black education. Since the historic Brown versus Board of Education decision, it seems Blacks trying to get an education is like climbing Mount Everest naked.
by Antonio Ellis, Your Black World
"As published on Your Black World."
Over the past two decades, it is no secret that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) financial management has plummeted. For example, in the late 1990s, Morris Brown College experienced a mass amount of debt that resulted in its loss of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 2002. During that time, the college president, Deloris E. Cross resigned while under criminal investigation for her mismanagement of institutional finances. Reportedly, the college owed the city approximately $380,000 in delinquent bills that were nearly five years old. On December 15, 2008, the city suspended water services at the school with threats not to resume classes the following semester if the enormous debt was not paid. Once the college was deeply in debt with little time to cover expenses, supported attempted to react. Unfortunately, they were not proactive before the college was on a downward spiral with little chances of surviving. Once an institution loses accreditation, it is extremely challenging to regain it. Not having accreditation hinders a college or university ability to get financial support from the government. During the year 2002, enrollment decreased from 3,000 to 240 students.
Other HBCU’s including Bennett College, Benedict College, Fisk, and Florida A&M University is just some of several Black institution of higher learning who is experiencing hardships. The explanation of the financial crisis among HBCU does vary. It is duly noted that HBCU’s are significantly underfunded by the Federal Government, receiving far less financial support that other colleges and universities. In addition to a lack of federal funding, HBCU’s also suffer with institutional challenges such as poor financial management, administrative dishonesty, increasing tuition cost, decreasing enrollment, misallocation of funding, and the lack of alumni donations.
