The Negro Private and Church-Related College: A Critical Summary

Abstract

By time reader reaches this chapter, he will have a wealth of information about origins, philosophy, and problems of Negro church-related colleges. These institutions have inspiring traditions and an interesting history; they face difficult futures. When Supreme Court handed down its historic decision in Spring of 1954, there was a rash of predictions and advocacies of demise of Negro institutions of higher education. Relaxed and sober discussion and analysis have brought more sophistication relative to this group of colleges and universities. Today discussion is not about their funeral but their future. At outset, it must be recognized that church-related Negro colleges have never been and are not now a homogeneous group. There have been and there remain wide variations in their quality, support, and potentialities. Even in elementary matter of church financial support, there are significant differences. A few, like Morehouse and Spelman, are churchrelated in an historical sense, but recipients of little, if any, church monies. Some are related to, and supported by, several denominations, while others are a part of a system of denominational institutes, no one of which receives sufficient financial aid. In one instance where a denomination supports a single college, that church body has significantly augmented its financial aid in recent years. Most church-related educational institutions received sizeable financial assistance from non-religious sources. Variations in academic standards are no less striking. A number of these institutions have been and remain firstclass, liberal arts colleges. Others, once si nificant and important centers of liberal arts education, are facing serious problems incident to maintaining their positions. At same time, it is among church-related colleges, that one discovers the most exciting development in Negro higher education . 1, including institutions which are currently at crossroads. They can develop into strong and significant centers for higher education or they can perpetuate mediocracy. At other extreme, there is a group of second-class Negro colleges and inferior junior colleges. Most of these, too, are church-related.