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SAVING BLACK COLLEGES
More than 270,000 students attend the nation's 105 Historically Black
Colleges and Universities. The majority of these institutions were
founded by former slaves following the Civil War to provide educational
opportunities for blacks when there were none. Alumni of black colleges
include: Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Oprah Winfrey,
Toni Morrison and Spike Lee.
For years these schools have grappled with serious problems such as
low retention and graduation rates, competition with mainstream institutions,
and a reputation for academic mediocrity. The biggest problem, however,
is money: 80% of the students at Historically Black Colleges need
financial aid.
Furthermore, the total endowment for all black colleges is $1.6 billion
- a fraction of Harvard's $19 billion endowment.
Despite the odds, leaders like Johnnetta
Cole of Bennett College and Walter Broadnax of Clark Atlanta University
are finding answers and ensuring that the schools thrive for years
to come.
produced by Tira Grey
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Airdate: February 25, 2004 |
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