ST. LOUIS -- Representatives from major business and government agencies concluded a four-day summit today at which they discussed strategies and opportunities for strengthening business programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

"In a global economy, there is an ever-increasing need for young people who are well trained in business to deal with the challenges we face as a nation, " said Wilbert Bryant, counselor to Secretary of Education Rod Paige for White House Initiative on HBCUs. "Continued strong support from major corporations will allow black colleges to better equip tomorrow's business leaders with the knowledge and skills they need to meet those challenges and be successful in this nation or abroad."

Sixty deans from HBCUs met with private business leaders and government officials at Harris-Stowe State College in St. Louis to provide a forum for HBCU schools of business to address opportunities and challenges associated with enhancing business programs and initiatives.

In addition, the summit focused on how strategic partnerships and alliances with government, the private sector and national organizations can provide the tools and resources for success.

The topics discussed at the summit included: increasing employment recruiting from HBCU schools of business into salary-competitive career fields by major corporations; increasing by 30 to 50 percent those HBCU schools of business recognized by accrediting associations; increasing African American representation in business fields through internships, cooperative study and faculty recruitment; and providing the platform to advance business and technology efforts to support enhanced curricula and increase the number of minority students entering business career fields.

Several major corporations such as AT&T, Microsoft, Apple Computer and ConAgra Foods held workshops and panel discussions for HBCU deans.

For example, one of the workshops focused on preparing business students for corporate America. The deans received information on creative ways to improve relationships with businesses and five key areas of success for business students: remaining flexible and thriving on change on the job; thirsting for continuous learning; focusing on collaborative skills; and having a strong sense of ethical values.

Also, business representatives held a panel discussion on corporate diversity and business ethics. Each panelist talked about different scenarios in which they had to terminate or discipline employees because of a lack of judgment on ethics.

Officials from government agencies also took part in roundtable discussions. Among them: Sean Moss, director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Transportation; Lewis Clopton, director of research management, U.S. Department of Transportation; John Carter, regional director, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; and Robert Henderson, regional director, U.S. Department of Commerce.

On Feb. 12, 2002, President Bush signed Executive Order 13256 establishing the White House Initiative on HBCUs and with it a presidentially appointed board of advisers, located in the U.S. Department of Education's Office of the Secretary.

The HBCU initiative provides staff and support for the HBCU board of advisers and assists the secretary as the liaison between the executive branch and the HBCUs. The HBCU initiative also works with some 30 federal agencies to increase the ability of HBCUs to compete successfully for federal grants, contracts or federally sponsored programs.

On May 21, Secretary Paige appointed Wilbert Bryant as counselor to the secretary for the White House Initiative on HBCUs. Bryant also serves as deputy assistant secretary for postsecondary education.

President Bush's FY 2004 budget request for the U.S. Department of Education includes more than $224 million for HBCUs. This is an increase in funding for HBCUs by $10.7 million -- a five percent increase over 2003 funding levels -- that would result in an estimated average award of more than $2 million each for almost 100 eligible HBCUs. This will help the schools strengthen the infrastructure and achieve greater financial stability, supporting activities such as construction, community outreach and student services.

Currently, 79 HBCUs have schools of business. To view all of the HBCUs with schools of business, visit http://www.hssc.edu/hbcu/hbcu-list.pdf.

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