The Board of Governors and the individual campuses of the UNC system are undergoing leadership changes and transitions that could have a destabilizing effect on the status of the five historically black colleges and universities within the system.
Despite this tumult and the Board’s recent emphasis on efficiency and “right-sizing,” the Board of Governors must remain cognizant of the important role HBCUs play in contributing to the state economy, jobs and culture.
Elizabeth City State University, facing both declining admission rates over the past five years and the sudden resignation of its chancellor in December, is one of the universities whose future is in question. However, the board must recognize it is the only public UNC university and one of the largest employers in the northeastern region of North Carolina. Recent reports also suggest an increase in admissions for next year — a positive upswing that may be attributed to the current national climate regarding race awareness.
Yet the impact of HBCUs cannot always be quantified in terms of enrollment and job output. All five public HBCUs were founded before 1911: their founding, their legacies, their alumni and their students all contribute to the state’s history and culture. HBCUs serve to empower traditionally disenfranchised individuals.
The fact that no member of the Board of Governors has attended an HBCU — which represent almost a third of the system schools — only exacerbates the sensitivity with which these issues must be handled by the board. We urge the Board of Governors to take a holistic view when evaluating North Carolina’s HBCUs.
