Black Public Colleges and Universities

Abstract

In the 19 states and the District of Columbia that have Black public colleges and universities, Black students have been admitted to previously all-White colleges and universities, and White students have enrolled in historically Black institutions (HBIs) in increasing numbers.' In Table 1, the Fall 1984 totals and racial composition of enrollment at the 38 publicly supported 4-year HBOs in these states are shown. These changes have led to considerable uncertainty about the educational role of Black public colleges and universities, an uncertainty that is exceedingly serious and potentially fatal in an era of demographic decline and heightened interinstitutional competition for students. The purpose of this article is to outline some of the prospects and problems involved in three principal directions an HBI may take or has taken in redefining its mission to serve students effectively and to create a secure niche for itself in its state system of higher education. A public HBI's alternatives include emphasizing one or more of the following functions, which imply corresponding institutional models: