HBCUs Lead National Effort to Boost Minority Graduation Rates

Forty percent of underrepresented minorities attending colleges graduate within a six-year period, a stark comparison to the sixty percent graduation rate of non-minority students. But according to a recent story in U.S. News and World Report, historically black colleges and universities are implementing unique programming to reduce this academic disparity for minorities.

At many HBCUs, the graduation rate hovers in the range of 30 to 40 percent. But many HBCUs are striving to ensure that more students of color earn a degree. “There are many systemic institutional programs and solutions that are beginning to address this,” says Alvin Thornton, interim provost and chief academic officer at Howard University in the District of Columbia.

The story outlines specific retention and economic initiatives that encourages and empowers students to stay in school through the imperative first two years. We know that the obstacles facing minority college students run the economic, social, cultural and academic gamut. It’s not enough to say that minority students can’t afford school. What about first-generation students who don’t have assistance in filling out financial aid paperwork? What about students with diverse family structures who don’t comply with the submission of tax information?

Culturally, are there resources in place to deal with jealous family and friends who create roadblocks for the road to college for students? What are the resources available for teen parents? For students with criminal records?

And finally, how can institutions supplement academic preparedness? It’s not enough to identify trouble with core subjects; how do you rectify issues that are long-standing problems stemming from secondary school?

Unfortunately, HBCUs do not have the resources or manpower to solve these issues. It becomes the burden of community members, organizations, churches, and other outlets with experience and capability to prepare students for collegiate success.

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