HBCU or PWC? College choice can be tough


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HBCU or PWC? College choice can be tough
http://web.nccu.edu/admissions/index.shtml

By Bethonie Butler
The Charlotte Post
http://www.thecharlottepost.com/life2.html

Near or far? Big or small? What to major in?

These are just a few of the questions prospective college students ask when deciding which school to attend. And for some, another question enters the equation: historically black college or predominantly white?

America's 105 historically black colleges have strong traditional value. At one point HBCUs were the only option for black college students, especially in the South. And according to the United Negro College Fund, over 75 percent of today's black professionals are HBCU graduates.

Fifty years after the Brown v. Board decision outlawed segregation in U.S. public schools, the biggest advantage for students is the expanded academic and social options to choose from.

N.C. Central University sophomore Akela Crawford of Charlotte said she chose the Durham HBCU because she had attended predominantly white grade schools and sought a different atmosphere.

Crawford noted that many of her classmates had gone to predominantly black high schools and wanted to go to similar colleges.

"Most students in Charlotte go to in-state schools," she said. "They either go to Winston(-Salem) State, Johnson (C. Smith), A&T or Central."

Garinger High School senior Phillip Shelton applied to several North Carolina universities before deciding on N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro. He said A&T's HBCU status influenced his decision.

"I just see it as a plus," Shelton said. "That is just more my type of environment."

Olympic High School senior Eric Nelson said of the six colleges to which he applied, four were HBCUs. In the end, he opted for the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"I felt at home there," he said. "They really knew how to treat a person."

For students seeking a lower student to teacher ratio, the small class size of HBCUs may be an advantage, although A&T is one of the nation's largest HBCUs with an enrollment of just over 10,000.

While predominantly white institutions may be provide a significantly different environment for black students, many have aimed to provide mentoring and leadership programs to enhance the academic experience.

Anita Blowers, director of the Office of Student Success and Retention at UNC-Charlotte said the university has several programs that acclimate black students to college life.

Blowers cited UTOP, or University Transition Opportunities Program, and SAFE - Student Advising for Freshman Excellence - as two such programs. According to UNCC's website, UTOP helps minority students make the transition from high school to college. Students are chosen to participate in a five-week program before their first semester and are advised throughout their college careers.

SAFE provides freshmen, particularly students of color, with an upperclassman mentor to help the freshmen adjust academically and socially.

Blowers noted that UNCC's learning communities provide a more intimate atmosphere between teachers and students. Students can network with classmates with similar interests, and the majority of learning communities are based area of study.

Harding University High School guidance counselor Betty Stroud said cost is the major factor students take into consideration when applying to college.

Stroud said students weigh the differences between in-state and out-of-state tuition, which usually drives up the cost of college. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools also provides information about colleges, including websites, contact information, scholarship information and application instructions.

CMS's website also provides information on applying to college, with links to the websites of North Carolina colleges and universities, 11 of which are historically black.

In terms of financial aid, students at either type of institution have an array of scholarships available. Websites like http://Fastweb.com and http://Scholarship.com provide individualized scholarship searches for high school and college students.

Some scholarships are only available to students attending HBCUs. And while UNCF provides financial aid to students at either type of school, direct support is given to 39 private historically black colleges, making tuition 54 percent lower at these schools than at comparable institutions, according to UNCF"s website.
 
Historically black colleges have much to offer

By JASON ALSTON, Daily Dispatch Writer

Last year black conservative University of California regent Ward Connerly made several malicious statements about historically black universities, saying that the institutions are "directly opposed to the diversity ideal."

Connerly went on to say that a historically black college or university's (HBCU) "entire reason for being is not to be diverse."

As blackpressUSA.com editor George Curry explained in a January article, Connerly's statements were entirely inaccurate. On average, there are more white students and faculty at HBCUs than there are black students and faculty at predominantly white colleges in the nation. HBCUs only make up 3 percent of the 3,688 institutions of higher learning in this country, and 85 percent of black college students attend predominantly white colleges.

Based on the numbers, HBCUs celebrate diversity just as much as other schools. HBCUs are also clearly not an obstacle to any predominantly white university's quest for diversity, contrary to statements by Connerly, who said: "HBCUs, by their very nature, draw away many black students who would otherwise attend racially mixed schools and affect their 'diversity.' "

Connerly's belief that HBCUs are obsolete and irrelevant should not only offend blacks and alumni of HBCUs, but also any North Carolina taxpayer. There are five publicly supported HBCUs in the UNC system: North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Fayetteville State, Elizabeth City State and Winston-Salem State. Those institutions are no less valuable to our state than schools such as Western Carolina and UNC-Wilmington.

Connerly's statements, however, illustrate a common perception that HBCUs are inferior to predominantly white schools. I recently sat down with two former HBCU students who now attend UNC-Wilmington to discuss their experiences and opinions on this issue.

According to Maya Jackson, a Durham native and former N.C. A&T student, the learning experience at an HBCU seemed more "realistic." Jackson believes that her professors at A&T were more willing to tell the truth about tough topics such as discrimination and poverty.

Joi Heggins, a former Clark-Atlanta University student, added that being at an HBCU helped her to view issues from an African-American standpoint. Heggins said the media and the history books tell only half the story, and the educational experience at UNCW relies on the books and the media for the whole story.

In addition to being disappointed with the one-sidedness of some of the curriculum, Heggins also takes issue with the indifference of some UNCW faculty members. At Clark-Atlanta, Heggins said, professors truly disciplined and corrected their students and would even put them on the spot if they were not on task.

Many black UNCW professors, she said, are virtually invisible and removed from the student body, including blacks. Many black students at UNCW don't know the black professors in their discipline.

"I would think (black faculty) would want to have our backs since there aren't many of us here," Heggins said.

Heggins said she was able to build working relationships with professors at Clark-Atlanta.

Another issue Heggins and Jackson chose to address is the apparent misconception that career prospects are brighter for students, particularly black students, at predominantly white schools.

At an HBCU, "there are more businesses at career fairs because they seek competent minorities," Jackson said. At UNCW, "it's like a joke of a career fair."

Jackson has seen top-notch companies recruiting students at HBCUs in North Carolina and said she doesn't find the same at UNCW. Heggins, who is in business school, said she has seen active recruiting for talented students at career fairs sponsored by UNCW's business school, but those fairs aren't open to students in other disciplines.

Both ladies cite the campus social climate as the biggest difference between their former schools and UNCW. Jackson described many of the black students at UNCW as "lost" and said many of them don't realize what white students say about them behind their backs.

Jackson has seen from classroom discussions and interaction with white students at UNCW that many white students are dismissive of black students and look down on them. Jackson also has seen evidence that some white students at UNCW are fearful of her and other blacks or won't acknowledge their presence. At A&T, which is about 5 percent white, the reverse was never true, Jackson said; white students were accepted and respected and never feared.

Heggins said that having to endure racism at a predominantly white university can make or break minority students. But she noted that real-world professional settings are diverse, and minorities must be equipped to confront prejudice and be able to communicate with people of all backgrounds.

Jackson went on to state that there is virtually no identity or cultural tradition at UNCW. Offering homecoming week as an example, Jackson said that at A&T there would be widely publicized functions such as dances, step shows, contests, marching band performances and celebrity appearances. In comparison, she described UNCW's homecoming festivities as "immature," perhaps including small raffles in addition to selections from the school's pep band at the game.

UNCW does hold a step show during homecoming week, but UNCW's own Greek chapters do not compete in the show.

Jackson said homecomings at A&T and other HBCUs draw crowds from the community and other schools, making the events fun. At UNCW, "some students and much of the community doesn't even know it when it's homecoming week."

Both girls said the campus environment at UNCW isn't conducive to fun or recreation, particularly for minority students. But also said that part of the problem lies with the black students at UNCW.

"It's nothing to say, 'Hey,' " said Heggins, who said black students at UNCW often won't acknowledge one another. "It's only a few of us here, so let's work together."

Jackson agreed, adding that the black organizations at UNCW, such as the Black Student Union, the NAACP and the school's historically black Greek organizations, don't contribute enough to the campus, specifically fellowship among minority students. Jackson said A&T has events sponsored by campus organizations almost daily; at UNCW, each organization may sponsor a select few events each semester.

Heggins said the disunity and apathy among black and minority students may be unique to UNCW; she didn't notice the same problems when she visited other predominantly white schools.

Heggins and Jackson agreed that the education, career prospects and social climate at their HBCUs were in no way inferior and at times better than what they experience at UNCW. Although they are only two examples, they reflect a trend. Many students and teachers who have experience with predominantly black and white schools have found HBCUs to have attributes that give them a purpose and make them ideal schools for many students.

For more information about HBCUs and to read other essays about those institutions, visit www.hbcunetwork.com

North Carolina taxpayers should have no objection to their funds supporting the five state-run HBCUs. Those on the inside will tell you that the schools are doing a fine service to their students, surrounding communities and the state as a whole.

The writer can be reached at [email protected].
 



Historically black colleges better stop living off the past, start marketing better and get sorry arse alums to give back because we are getting our clocks cleaned by not even the "flag ship" universities in the states now days. the good ole days of segregation forcing blacks to go to HBCUs are over. there are about as many blacks at PWCs now days as the hbcus in numbers. hell, i can't even tell i'm not on an HBCU campus when I go to TSUM (Troy State University Montgomery) or AUM in Montgomery or UAB in Birmingham.

HBCUs need massive influxes of money and resources to compete in an increasingly tough market place for students coming out of high school. this is an old topic,, but I have had parents of kids coming out of school now days to tell me straight up they are not sending their kids to no "party schools" like ASU/Tuskegee/AAMU "because all they do up there is party and get in trouble", they are sending their kid to South Alabama or Auburn or Univ of Alabama (yeah, i know, like they don't party etc at PWCs yeah, yeah, yeah,, but perceptions are increasingly kicking HBCUs arse folks. not everybody grew up with parents and relatives that went to HBCUs and indoctrinated their kids on doing the same and exposed them to HBCUs throughout high school you ostritches.). Get your heads out of the sand folks,,, HBCUs got our hands full and the dam is springing leaks all over the place.
 
How are you supporting your HBCU?

I am a paid member of our National Alumni Association, and am inquiring into establishing an endowment scholarship in my father's name.
 
Vinita said:
How are you supporting your HBCU?

I am a paid member of our National Alumni Association, and am inquiring into establishing an endowment scholarship in my father's name.
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V,,, do you think I would make such a comment without being able to back it up? come on chief, MY GOODNESS! I haven't missed scratching a check to my Annual Fund/Planned Giving campaign since I graduated in 1987 all the "I'll NEVER give back to them after all they put me through" rhetoric notwithstanding,,, other than 91-93 while in grad school. Any scholarship in my father's name would be more appropriate at Alabama State or Alabama A&M where he got his degrees,, so you are a step ahead of me on that one.
 
Bartram said:
V,,, do you think I would make such a comment without being able to back it up? come onchief, MY GOODNESS! I haven't missed scratching a check to my Annual Fund/Planned Giving campaign since I graduated in 1987 all the "I'll NEVER give back to them after all they put me through" rhetoric notwithstanding,,, other than 91-93 while in grad school. Any scholarship in my father's name would be more appropriate at Alabama State or Alabama A&M where he got his degrees,, so you are a step ahead of me on that one.
Click to expand...

:topic:

Bart, CHIEF is used only for dudes..like DAWG. Carry on !
 
Bartram said:
V,,, do you think I would make such a comment without being able to back it up? come on chief, MY GOODNESS! I haven't missed scratching a check to my Annual Fund/Planned Giving campaign since I graduated in 1987 all the "I'll NEVER give back to them after all they put me through" rhetoric notwithstanding,,, other than 91-93 while in grad school. Any scholarship in my father's name would be more appropriate at Alabama State or Alabama A&M where he got his degrees,, so you are a step ahead of me on that one.
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Chief? :xeye: I always thought I was a squaw? :topic: Oh well ...

My father, mother, brother, an uncle, three aunts, and ten cousins ALL received degrees from Arkansas AM&N/UAPB, so an endowment scholarship there in his name is highly appropriate.

Although, I did send UAPB a check for ten cents once, because they had kinda pissed me off ...
 
pbla said:
:topic:

Bart, CHIEF is used only for dudes..like DAWG. Carry on !
Click to expand...

Man, why do peeps on this board constantly look for dragons when there are only windmills.

On a side note Nita. Squaw is a deragatory term. It means Vagina in Sioux. Only palefaces used that term. lol

:D
 
Yes, well, I'd expect a DORK such as you to be able to provide me with such enlightenment!

Thanks! :tup: :D
 
Its not a tough choice to make if the nearest HBCU 400 miles away. It just depends on the region of the country you live in. The major problem with HBCUs is that the students now and days do not truly appreciate them and decide to attend an institution that their parents couldn't attend. And the worst part is the parents encourage them. THATS SO STUPID!!!!
 
:lmao:
Ohakam said:
Man, why do peeps on this board constantly look for dragons when there are only windmills.

On a side note Nita. Squaw is a deragatory term. It means Vagina in Sioux. Only palefaces used that term. lol
Click to expand...
Well at least he didn't say you people.

Oh by the way...I love dragons:D
 
^^You People just don't get sarcasm do you? lol

But back to the subject, I made a 29 on my ACT...as a result of that, I could choose any college in MS and get a free ride. I chose JSU because my parents and my grandmother on my father's side went there. Personally, I'm just glad that more of us are choosing the option of going to college in lieu of Pen State.
 
Ohakam said:
^^You People just don't get sarcasm do you? lol

But back to the subject, I made a 29 on my ACT...as a result of that, I could choose any college in MS and get a free ride.
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If you made a 29, you clearly qualified to go to AAMU. If we had simply known that, we would have given you the option of going there instead of JSU. lol
 
Oracle said:
If you made a 29, you clearly qualified to go to AAMU. If we had simply known that, we would have given you the option of going there instead of JSU. lol
Click to expand...

I would have gone to AAMU, but I found out about the criteria that allowed you to get handicapped parking if you put your AAMU transcript in the window of your car, so I chose otherwise. lol

:D
 



Well, for Ward Connerly and anyone else who claims HBCU's aren't committed to diversity....HBCU'S HAVE NEVER DENIED OR DISCOURAGED ENROLLMENT OR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES TO WHITES. AND IN PARALLEL, WHITES HAVE NEVER BEEN BANNED AND LAWFULLY DENIED ADMISSION TO ANY HBCU. If there are no whites at a college then that college is more diverse than others. Why? Because that means the majority of the population of this country is represented considerably less than it's minorities at such an institution. We didn't make these rules...we only get screwed by them and folk like Connerly who make a living playing the turncoat for something that doesn't exist in any form that can be defended or seriously victimized more than it currently is and has been.
 
Ohakam said:
^^You People just don't get sarcasm do you? lol

But back to the subject, I made a 29 on my ACT...as a result of that, I could choose any college in MS and get a free ride. I chose JSU because my parents and my grandmother on my father's side went there. Personally, I'm just glad that more of us are choosing the option of going to college in lieu of Pen State.
Click to expand...

exactly. my family has a history of attending HBCU's, my father went to Alcorn and most of my cousins went to Alcorn, my uncle went to Jackson State. Hell, I had a full ride and a job if I would have committed to Princeton, but I just got burnt out on going to school with prejudice white folks and I want to be educated by a professor, not his student aide.
 
lilC said:
Well, for Ward Connerly and anyone else who claims HBCU's aren't committed to diversity....HBCU'S HAVE NEVER DENIED OR DISCOURAGED ENROLLMENT OR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES TO WHITES. AND IN PARALLEL, WHITES HAVE NEVER BEEN BANNED AND LAWFULLY DENIED ADMISSION TO ANY HBCU. If there are no whites at a college then that college is more diverse than others. Why? Because that means the majority of the population of this country is represented considerably less than it's minorities at such an institution. We didn't make these rules...we only get screwed by them and folk like Connerly who make a living playing the turncoat for something that doesn't exist in any form that can be defended or seriously victimized more than it currently is and has been.
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Very well said!
 
:lecture:

There is so much to say about this topic and it will be never-ending....

However, I grew up in the north and the closest HBCU to me was Central State and Wilberforce. My high school was predominately black and my principle was a HBCU grad - CSU (and all of his kids were going to PV), as well as some of the other teachers/counselors. They tried to educate us as much as they could about HBCUs, but a lot of the kids were rooted in the city and didn't want to go so far away to school.

I received a full scholarship to two PWCs (Michigan State and Wayne State), but, of course, chose Southern. This decision was made based on MY family history AND a decision that I personally made that I wanted to learn more about MY people in the South. I had heard all the stories from my folks, but wanted to experience it myself.

Whenever I talk to any of my high school classmates that went on to PWCs and talked to them about their experiences on campus, they simply tell me that they wish they had come to an HBCU. They are thankful for their "paper," but that is NOT what a complete "college experience" is all about! I had more stories from my very first semester in college than they did their entire college years!

Only those that truly know about what an HBCU means to this world can intellectually ignore any of Connerly's comments and continue to support the HBCUs of today and where they are going tomorrow!
 
Top Colleges Take More Blacks, but Which Ones?

Top Colleges Take More Blacks, but Which Ones?
By SARA RIMER and KAREN W. ARENSON
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/24/education/24AFFI.final.html?th
Published: June 24, 2004


CAMBRIDGE, Mass. ? At the most recent reunion of Harvard University's black alumni, there was lots of pleased talk about the increase in the number of black students at Harvard.

But the celebratory mood was broken in one forum, when some speakers brought up the thorny issue of exactly who those black students were.

While about 8 percent, or about 530, of Harvard's undergraduates were black, Lani Guinier, a Harvard law professor, and Henry Louis Gates Jr., the chairman of Harvard's African and African-American studies department, pointed out that the majority of them ? perhaps as many as two-thirds ? were West Indian and African immigrants or their children, or to a lesser extent, children of biracial couples
 
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