Running head: BLACK IN HIGHER EDUCATION 1

Black Students in Higher Education

Renee Connelly

CAHE 500

12 December 2017
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Introduction

Higher Education is a common next step for children who come from homes where their

parents have attended some form of college. In the United States colleges started on the East

coast. The first institutions according to Thelin include, Harvard, Princeton, William and Mary,

Yale, Columbia, Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth, and Pennsylvania (Thelin, 2011). These

institutions still hold high prestige within American society. These institutions have prestige

based on their longevity but also their alumni. Throughout the years the landscape of higher

education has changed. We no longer only have institutions that admit white males. This paper

will discuss the history of higher education, where it started, where it is now, and where it can go

in the future. Specifically, I will focus on a marginalized population within higher education,

black students. I will discuss historically black colleges, the types of students that attend college,

and what the future looks like for black students wanting to pursue higher education.

History of Higher Education

Higher Education History

Higher Education has a rich history in the United States. Attending college was

something that privileged white males were afforded by their family. College in the colonial era

was different than what college is today. “One peculiar characteristic of the colonial colleges in

their first decades is that there was little emphasis on completing degrees” (Thelin, 2011).

Thelin further talks about how students would attend school for a year and then move on.

“College students probably constituted less than 1 percent of the population” (Thelin, 2011).

Colleges during this time had very low enrollments, some schools only have 1, while others

would have less than 20. “There is little evidence that any of the colonial colleges ever enrolled
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more than a hundred students in a single year” (Thelin, 2011). Schools during the colonial

period were preparing men to be gentlemen (Thelin, 2011). Colleges soon began to change and

provide more interactions for students.

Colleges began to incorporate extracurricular activities to grow student involvement.

“There was one important organized activity, however, that did flourish in the latter part of the

colonial era: student debating and literary societies. The first such group, Phi Betta Kappa, was

founded at William and Mary in 1776” (Thelin, 2011). This was the start, later adding music,

and collegiate sports.

Another transformation in higher education was after the civil war. During this time, “the

change from “college” to “university” (Thelin, 2011) occurred. This shift took schools from one

common focus to the ability to focus on multiple areas of study including research (Thelin,

2011).

Women’s’ colleges are also a pivotal piece of higher education. Schools starting

enrolling women between 1800-1860 (Thelin, 2011). The Midwest was one of the pioneers in

allowing women to attend institutions including Knox College in Illinois (Thelin, 2011).

Commonly women went to school to learn how to become teachers. In the south women from

privileged families attending college to learn domestic duties and prepare to become a wife and

mother (Thelin, 2011).

Higher education throughout the years have expanded and changed a lot. Higher

education has seen the emphasis on degree completion become normal. There has been the

establishment of community colleges and for- profit schools. In addition, more recently there

has been a shift toward the online degree (Bastedo, 2016).

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HBCU History

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) were designed for students of color

so they would be able to pursue higher education.

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were established to serve the educational

needs of black Americans. Prior to the time of their establishment, and for many years

afterwards, blacks were generally denied admission to traditionally white institutions. As a

result, HBCUs became the principle means for providing postsecondary education to black

Americans” (Dept of Education, 1991).

Historically black colleges and universities were established based on, “most of

the early development of public universities came from the federal Morrill Act of

1862, which led to the establishment of historically black land-grant universities”

(Bastedo, 2016).

The Morrill Act instituted by President Abraham Lincoln was instituted to build universities

across the country (Loss, 2012). “By the dawn of the 20th century every state was home to at

least one "cow college," and to two in the segregated South” (Loss, 2012). The institution of the

land act and the designation of two schools in the south is what started the conception of

historically black colleges and universities. Even with the designation of the schools they still

were not equal to their white counterparts. “Even though all land-grant institutions of the

decades were underfunded, the seventeen black institutions were disproportionately neglected

with respect to facilities, salaries, and staffing” (Thelin, 2011). The result of the designation

sprouted many HBCUs in the south and a few up the east coast of the United States. Historically
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black colleges and Universities are pivotal in higher education as they allowed a population

previously shut out by schools to receive a degree and have more opportunity.

Historically Black College and Universities

Currently in the United States there are multiple historically black colleges and universities.

According to the department of education there are 104 historically black colleges and

universities.

By 1953, more-than 32,000 students were enrolled in such well known private

black institutions as Fisk University, Hampton Institute, Howard University,

Meharry Medical College, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Tuskegee

Institute, as well as a host of smaller black colleges located in southern and border

states. In the same year, over 43,000 students were enrolled in public black

colleges. HBCUs enrolled 3,200 students in graduate programs. These private and

public institutions mutually served the important mission of providing education

for teachers, ministers, lawyers, and doctors for the black population in a racially

segregated society (Dept of Education, 1991).

Fisk University

Fisk University is located in Nashville, Tn. It was established in 1866 (fisk.edu) and it is

“the oldest institution of higher education in Nashville, Tn” (fisk.edu). Fisk is known as a

research institution (fisk.edu). Today, Fisk University has 761 undergraduates enrolled and the

tuition cost is an estimated $32,000 including room and board (usnews.com). The school

focuses on humanities, behavioral sciences, natural sciences, business, and math (fisk.edu).
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Tuskegee Institute

Tuskegee Institute is located in Tuskegee, Al. It was established in 1881. Tuskegee is

prestigious and could be listed as part of the “Negro Ivy League” (Thelin, 2011). Today

Tuskegee boats their engineering degrees specifically their aerospace division and their doctoral

program (tuskegee.edu). Tuskegee was also the first nursing bachelor’s degree program in the

state of Alabama (Tuskegee.edu). Today Tuskegee costs, “tuition and fees are $22,235”

(usnews.com).

Spelman College

Spelman College is in Atlanta, Ga. Spelman college was founded as a women’s college

in 1881 (spelman.edu). Spelman college is a liberal arts college that currently enrolls a little over

2,00 students (spelman.edu). Spelman currently costs close to $28,000 for tuition and fees

(usnews.com).

Morehouse College

Morehouse College is the male counterpart to Spelman College. Morehouse is also

located in Atlanta, Ga. “Founded in 1867 in the basement of Springfield Baptist Church in

Augusta, Ga., by the Rev. William Jefferson White, with the encouragement of former slave the

Rev. Richard C. Coulter and the Rev. Edmund Turney of the National Theological Institute,

Morehouse College has had a 150-year legacy of producing educated men and global leaders”

(morehouse.edu). Morehouse is currently the only male liberal arts, HBCU in the country

(morehouse.edu). Currently its enrollment just over 2,000 (usnews.com) and tuition costs are

$27,000 (usnews.com).
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Today in Higher Education

Black Student Population

Today black students entering higher education are seeing many recruitment efforts

(Thelin, 2011). Schools are going into lower income areas and making a strong push to recruit

these students to their schools. Black students are looking into their options to pursue a degree.

Students are looking at HBCU’s but also predominately white institutions (PWI) as well (Thelin,

2011).

Current Issues

Black students are still attending college, but more are attending through the use of

alternative admissions programs such as the NIU CHANCE program. The CHANCE program

allows students who do not qualify for regular admissions the opportunity to still pursue higher

education. If a student is wanting to still take advantage of higher education the CHANCE

program can assist them. Students who enter the CHANCE program go through the admissions

process and receive additional support throughout their time at NIU specifically their first year

(niu.edu). CHANCE students commonly are from marginalized groups including black students.

CHANCE was established to assist with the diversity and accessibility of higher education to

students who would not otherwise qualify. CHANCE admits hundreds of students each year

(niu.edu). The CHANCE program provides students with an admissions interview, testing,

orientation, and a counselor to guide them towards success (niu.edu).

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Future of Higher Education

Implications for future

As a student affairs professional it is important to keep marginalized students in mind.

Students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds can need additional support. It is also

important that these students are treated with respect. Black students also thrive when they feel

they are a part of a community. Connecting students together to build a relationship can help

with their persistence. Whether a student attends a PWI or a HBCU maintain the connection and

assisting them throughout the way is how we can make strides to continue to see growth in this

group of people.

Conclusion

In conclusion, higher education has made many strides throughout history. Higher

education started in a place that was very exclusive. Higher education now is inclusive to all

types of students a well as learning styles. Marginalized students have also made great strides.

Black students have the option to attend historically black colleges and universities or

predominately white instructions. Although strides still need to be made to make all students

feel included on a college campus it is important to note that we are seeing more black people in

positions of power and continuing on to advanced degrees.

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References
Bastedo, M. N., Altbach, P. G., & Gumport, P. J. (2016). American higher education in the
twenty-first century: Social, political, and economic challenges (4th ed.) Baltimore, MD: The
Johns Hopkins University Press.
Fisk University. (2017). About Fisk University. Retrieved from: https://www.fisk.edu/about
Loss, C. P. (July 16, 2012). Why the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act Still Matters. The
Chronicle of Higher Education.
Morehouse College. (2017). Morehouse Legacy. Retrieved from:
http://www.morehouse.edu/about/legacy.html
Morey, A.I., (2004). Globalization and the emergence of for-profit higher education. Higher
Education. 48, 131–150.
Northern Illinois University. (2017). CHANCE Program. Retrieved from:
http://niu.edu/chance/about/index.shtml
Spelman College. (2017). About Spelman College. Retrieved from:
https://www.spelman.edu/about-us
Thelin, J. R. (2011). A history of American higher education (2nd ed.). Baltimore, MD: The
Johns Hopkins University Press.
Tuskegee University. (2017). Discover TU. Retrieved from: https://www.tuskegee.edu/discover-
tu
US News. (2017). Top Ranked HBCU. Retrieved from: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/