What's New
Mission
To strengthen the capacity of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to provide excellence in education.
A Brief History
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed
Executive Order 12232, which established a federal program "...
to overcome the effects of discriminatory treatment and to strengthen
and expand the capacity of historically black colleges and universities
to provide quality education."
In 1981, President Reagan, under Executive
Order 12320, established the White House Initiative on Historically
Black Colleges and Universities, which expanded the previous
program and set into motion a government-wide effort to strengthen
our nation’s HBCUs.
In 1989, President George Bush signed Executive Order 12677.
This Executive Order established a Presidential Advisory Board
on Historically Black Colleges and Universities to advise the
President and the Secretary of Education on methods, programs,
and strategies to strengthen these valued institutions.
In 1993, President William Jefferson Clinton
signed Executive Order 12876. This Executive Order required
that a senior level executive in each agency have oversight
in implementing the Order; and that the Office of Management
and Budget be involved in monitoring implementation of the Order.
On February 12, 2002, President George
W. Bush signed Executive Order 13256. This Executive Order transferred
the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and
Universities to the Office of the Secretary within the U.S.
Department of Education.
HBCUs: A National Resource
HBCUs are a source of accomplishment and
great pride for the African American community as well as the
entire nation. The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended,
defines an HBCU as: "...any historically black college
or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal
mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, and that
is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency
or association determined by the Secretary [of Education] to
be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered
or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable
progress toward accreditation." HBCUs offer all students,
regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their skills and
talents. These institutions train young people who go on to
serve domestically and internationally in the professions as
entrepreneurs and in the public and private sectors.
HBCUs enroll 14 percent of all African
American students in higher education, although they constitute
only three percent of America's 4,084 institutions of higher education.
In 1999, these institutions matriculated 24 percent of all African
American students enrolled in four-year colleges, awarded masters
degrees and first-professional degrees to about one in six African
American men and women, and awarded 24 percent of all baccalaureate
degrees earned by African Americans nationwide.
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