By DIONNE WALKER
Associated Press Writer
September 23, 2006
RICHMOND, Va. -- When prospective college student Jessica Page trundled off to Hampton University in March, she'd considered the visit a formality. She'd already made up her mind to attend the waterside school, considered by many a jewel among the nation's historically black institutions.

Then she saw the campus.

The dorms weren't as sleek as she'd pictured. Buildings seemed antiquated. Was this "The Real HU" she'd heard about?

"I wasn't impressed," said Page, who later enrolled at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville. "Hampton was my number one choice--until I visited."

Page is part of a steady trickle of talented black youths slipping away from the nation's most prestigious black schools.

Experts say aging campuses are one reason. Dwindling prestige, changes in what black students value and increasing competition from white educational powerhouses provide other clues.

The resulting exodus has left some black schools struggling to market themselves to youth who don't feel as duty-bound to the colleges as their parents before them.

"The issue for black colleges is not, in my view, that there are not enough students to go around," explained Michael Lomax, president of the United Negro College Fund. "(But) those students have a lot more choices and those students are being careful and more selective than ever before."

There are 103 historically black colleges and universities--or HBCUs--across the nation. Clustered mostly in the South, they were largely funded during the Reconstruction by wealthy whites as an alternative to universities that had shut out blacks.

The institutions have curried favor with black students for generations, valued as much for their unique campus traditions and family-like environment as for their skill at grooming the nation's black intellectual elite.

But data suggest the attraction is waning.

Total college enrollment of black men and women ages 18 to 24 has increased from 15 percent in 1970 to roughly 25 percent in 2003. The number of black students enrolling in HBCUs has slowly increased, too, from 190,305 in 1976 to more than 230,000 in 2001.

But the percentage of black college students choosing an HBCU has been drifting downward, from 18.4 percent in 1976 to 12.9 percent in 2001, according to the U.S. Department of Education's most recent figures available.

Twenty-six of 87 HBCUs profiled by the department recorded enrollment declines between 1995 and 2004.

Alabama's Talladega College topped the list, losing nearly 54 percent of its students. The University of the District of Columbia, which boasted 9,663 students in 1995, had 5,168 in 2004.

More troubling are the names of those foundering in recent years, black powerhouses like Fisk, Tuskegee and Bennett, revered as the "Vassar of the South."

That school had a $2 million budget deficit when the former president of Atlanta's Spelman College, Johnetta Cole, arrived in 2002.

Experts point to an expanding black middle class and the continuing effort of predominantly white--and often elite _ schools to diversify enrollment. Lacking affirmative action programs that have been questioned on constitutional grounds, colleges and universities have worked hard to attract and keep black students.

At Virginia, for instance, a peer advisory program pairs incoming black students with black upperclassmen for guidance. Last year, the school expanded Access UVA, a financial aid program. And when black students matriculate, they're presented a stole of bright African cloth in a ceremony called the "Donning of the Kente."

Valerie Gregory, director of outreach at the Charlottesville school, is a Hampton graduate. She's seeing more students like her daughter--heady black youths who don't feel like they must be surrounded by other blacks to be successful. Students are more apt to want to be in an integrated environment and now aren't as shy to look and see if there's a possibility," said Gregory, whose high schooler is weighing mostly white James Madison University in the Shenandoah Valley against Spelman.

Lomax, of the United Negro College Fund, said black parents are interested in degrees from schools with universal clout--and schools where their children will receive the support to graduate.

At Virginia State University, for instance, only 40 percent of eligible black students graduated in 2005. U.Va. graduates 86 percent of its black students, on average.

Mindful of enrollment erosion, HBCUs are trying new strategies, stepping up marketing and building on reputations in specialty majors.

Lomax's group, which gives scholarships to students attending 39 private historically black colleges, recently initiated the Institute for Capacity Building, a program that will help schools build funds, shore up academic gaps and improve recruitment. The idea is to help schools identify strengths, then make those programs airtight and promote them heavily, he said.

The group is encouraging schools to take recruitment beyond bordering states and into territory like the Midwest, where culturally isolated blacks may be receptive to an HBCU, Lomax said.

At Virginia Union, a small private school a few blocks from predominantly white Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, administrators have tapped black students in New York, Connecticut and other northern markets, said Gil Powell, director of admissions.

"We've been doing it here at Virginia Union for years," said Powell, who credited that, as well as the school's cozy environment, with gaining students who might otherwise be dazzled by VCU. The school saw a 26 percent increase in enrollment from 1995 to 2004.

Hampton also touts smaller class sizes--1,200 entered as freshman this fall--as well as two new dorms and a student center built within the last year.

Kassie Freeman is a dean at Maine's Bowdoin College and author of the book "African Americans and College Choice." She says black schools have been missing out on prime students by focusing too much on mining black high schools for freshmen.

Those students are typically ready for a more diverse environment.

"It's just the reverse with students who are attending predominantly white schools," she said. "They would much rather go to an environment where they can find their roots."

At Norfolk State University, a perfect storm of administrative and academic changes began claiming students in 1994, when federal officials began requiring a minimum 800 SAT score.

By fall 1995, the school had lost nearly 3,000 students.

Now administrators are building Norfolk State's name in optical engineering, criminal justice and material science and reaching into new markets.

The school is recruiting in Illinois, Colorado and even Oregon, including Asian and Latino students in their appeals, and has kicked off a campaign aimed at building scholarship funds.

"By 2012, we're on a track for 8,000 students," said Terricita Sass, associate vice president for enrollment management. "We're in the infancy stage of what I call the renaissance period."

Wow...
Thanks for the article

Thanks also. I must share in my weekly staff meeting.

College figures rise and fall
Local campuses are getting more applications, but in some localities, fewer high school seniors are applying.
BY GEORGINA STARK
247-4537
September 24, 2006
Local universities and community colleges have seen a rise in applications in recent years, but fewer high school graduates in some of the largest local districts say they're going to college.

Fewer 2006 high school graduates in Hampton, Newport News, York County and West Point planned to go to a two- or four-year college, compared with those who graduated four years earlier.

But more of the class of 2006 in Gloucester County, Mathews County, Poquoson, Suffolk and Williamsburg-James City County schools said they planned to attend college.

This year's seniors might have been back in high school for only three weeks, but those aiming for a college degree are visiting campuses, studying for entrance exams and getting applications together for early admission deadlines. And college admissions officers are beginning their fall-semester rounds to high schools and recruiting events.

Across the state, the number of high school graduates enrolling in college has remained steady, with 73 percent in 2004-05 - the latest year for which statewide data are available - planning to go to college. That's the same percentage as those who graduated in 2002.

Nationwide, the percentage of high school graduates seeking a college degree has gone up.

Sixty-seven percent of the class of 2004 - the latest year for which nationwide data are available - started college a few months later, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, a bureau of the U.S. Department of Education. Compare that with 55 percent of high school graduates going to college in 1984.

The number of York County students headed to college has fluctuated in recent years, but school officials aren't concerned.

"I don't think in education, you're going to see the same numbers every year," said Jennifer Parish, the school district's chief academic officer. "There's going to be variances in your student body. That's what you'd expect to see."

Sixty-six percent of Hampton's class of 2006 planned to go to college, compared with 68 percent in 2005.

For the past four years, Hampton's high school counselors have moved away from letting students fill out a survey about their future plans. Now counselors fill out surveys after talking with students. That partly explains the drop in Hampton students saying they plan to attend college, said Penny Petersen, director of school counseling. "I'm much more confident our figures are accurate now," she said.

What's more, Hampton's guidance counselors are taking a new approach this year when talking to seniors about their future, and that could also help explain the drop there.

"We used to ask students, 'Where do you want to go to college?' " Petersen said. "Our question this year is 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' "

Students might feel pressure to strive for a college education, but the counselors understand that it's not for everyone, Petersen said. For that reason, she predicts that the number of Hampton students headed to college will stay about the same.

The percentage of Newport News graduates going to college has dropped from 80 percent to 71 percent since 2002.

Many students realize that lots of well-paying jobs don't require a college degree, Eric Hairston said. He spent 10 years as a counselor at Denbigh High School and now coordinates a program to help low-income students go to college.

Newport News is aiming to have 75 percent of the class of 2007 go to college.

Despite the drop in college-bound seniors at some local school districts, Christopher Newport University in Newport News and the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg are seeing record numbers of applicants - and more applications from local high school graduates.

Hampton University received 500 fewer applications last school year, compared with the year before. The historically black private university has raised its admissions requirements, which partly explains the drop, said Angela Nixon Boyd, director of admissions.

Enrollment in community colleges is on the rise. Last school year, 15 percent more 18- to 21-year-old students were enrolled at Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, compared with the year before.

[B}Hampton University received 500 fewer applications last school year, compared with the year before. The historically black private university has raised its admissions requirements, which partly explains the drop, said Angela Nixon Boyd, director of admissions[/B]

Then the next question is "how many were accepted out of the number that applied?" and and of those accepted how many actually came?

quote:

Originally posted by Captain Silver:
Hampton University received 500 fewer applications last school year, compared with the year before. The historically black private university has raised its admissions requirements, which partly explains the drop, said Angela Nixon Boyd, director of admissions

Then the next question is "how many were accepted out of the number that applied?" and and of those accepted how many actually came?

I give Ms. Page a year before she's begging to get into Hampton.the number of applications to the top HBCU's are still high from my readings.

quote:

Originally posted by Bison 4 Life:
I give Ms. Page a year before she's begging to get into Hampton.the number of applications to the top HBCU's are still high from my readings.

I agree...

Our schools have got to modernize facilities true enough,but our kids have got to quit basing something as serious as where they attend college on who has the deepest pockets.Parents aren't educating their students about the legacy of the schools they attended.They're not taking them to functions on campus from the time they can walk up until it's time to go to college.That's part of the problem.In the article that we read,the student decided to attend Hampton based on what she had been told.She should have been exposed to the school itself, its alums and what it has to offer academically.
When I was a grad student at UGA,white alums would have their arm babies in those little snap jump suits.And then they would come to games with tee shirts and caps as they got older.By the time they graduated high school,they knew where they'd be going to college.
There are FVSU alum friends of mine who live in the Atlanta area and they have a son who just graduated from high school.They're begging him to consider FVSU's CDEP Program but he's stuck on Georgia Tech because his parents haven't been back to campus since we graduated in 1977.So you know they haven't taken him back for anything.He's a smart boy too interested in math and science.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SHOT CALLER,

quote:

Originally posted by SHOT CALLER:
Our schools have got to modernize facilities true enough,but our kids have got to quit basing something as serious as where they attend college on who has the deepest pockets.Parents aren't educating their students about the legacy of the schools they attended.They're not taking them to functions on campus from the time they can walk up until it's time to go to college.That's part of the problem.In the article that we read,the student decided to attend Hampton based on what she had been told.She should have been exposed to the school itself, its alums and what it has to offer academically.
When I was a grad student at UGA,white alums would have their arm babies in those little snap jump suits.And then they would come to games with tee shirts and caps as they got older.By the time they graduated high school,they knew where they'd be going to college.
There are FVSU alum friends of mine who live in the Atlanta area and they have a son who just graduated from high school.They're begging him to consider FVSU's CDEP Program but he's stuck on Georgia Tech because his parents haven't been back to campus since we graduated in 1977.So you know they haven't taken him back for anything.He's a smart boy too interested in math and science.

All very true. The value of an HBCU education is priceless, and WE have to start making it clear to this and future generations of our kids, or our schools will be just a memory.

This article is filled with false information and attempts to substantiate the author's bogus theory by using one person's assumption. Here is Hampton's reply to the article.

HU Issues Statement to Associated Press Article

Hampton, VA - In response to the article "Historically Black Colleges Facing Declining Enrollment" written by Associated Press reporter Dionne Walker that first appeared on Sept. 23, Hampton University finds the story to provide an inaccurate and unfair representation of the University. It appears as if the reporter did not want to be confused with the facts.

In the article, the reporter attempts to correlate Hampton University to statistical data indicating HBCUs are facing a drastic decline in enrollment numbers. That is blatantly false. In 1996, the University had a total enrollment of 5,554 and in 2005, the University had a total enrollment of 6,309, clearly illustrating a historical increase in enrollment figures. The University also continues to rank among the leaders in higher education, with U.S. News and World Report listing Hampton University as the 25th ranked institution among all southern universities in 2006. However, these facts did not support the preconceived notion Walker carried prior to contacting the University, therefore she did not include this information in the story.

Secondly, the article opens with the account from a University of Virginia (UVA) student who considered attending Hampton University but stated in her opinion that the facilities were antiquated. That too is blatantly false. During the last five years, Hampton University has constructed the state-of-the-art Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, the Student Center, and White and Holmes Halls. In addition, the historic Ogden Hall, known for its acoustics and as a cultural center in Hampton Roads, was renovated in 2004. The University is also in the developmental stages of building a new three-story 100,000 square-foot Dining Facility and Activity Hall overlooking the Hampton River.

This individual visited the campus in January 2006 as part of the Honors Visitation Weekend. The reporter acted in a very sophomoric manner by taking one individual's opinion and aligning it with her preconceived notion that historically black universities offer aging campuses and therefore are facing a "resulting exodus." Walker also declined to offer another perspective by rebuffing our offer to speak with a student who chose to attend Hampton University instead of a state institution such as UVA.

Furthermore, Hampton University cooperated fully when Calvin Jamison, senior vice president, spoke with the reporter numerous times prior to the release of this story. Jamison presented Walker with a detailed account of all buildings and renovations at Hampton University over the last 20 years, enrollment statistics, and additional University information. Jamison also offered a personal account of his choice to attend Virginia Tech while his own son chose to attend Hampton University on his own accord. Since his statements did not align with the reporter's theory, she blatantly disregarded any accounts provided by Jamison. This further adds to the reasoning that this article deliberately misrepresents the University in its entirety.

Hampton University, a dynamic, progressive institution of higher education, is a privately endowed, non-profit, non-sectarian, co-educational, historically black university. It is located in southeastern Virginia and boasts one of the loveliest campuses in the nation, with a picturesque waterfront and historic buildings and landmarks. Hampton University's endowment is currently over $220 million. Comprised of seven schools, a Graduate College and a College of Continuing Education, Hampton University is among the leaders in higher education.

^^^ Wow... the sad part is, I bet this release by Hampton did not receive the circulation that the declining enrollment story received.

My 0.02 cents... HBCUs NEED to start recruiting heavily amongst other groups... Hispanics, Asians, Middle Eastern, etc. And with the recruiting, they need to change the face of their own campus and truely turn them into campuses that invite diversity. HBCUs can require SGA to celebrate certain times during the year, such as October, Hispanic Heritage Month. They should inspire students to charter greek organizations that accent other cultures and races. There is sooo much that can be done instead of just depending on the black community to send their kids to HBCUs.

I'm not saying change what HBCUs are about, but embrace diversity while holding on to their founding purposes.

Historically Black Colleges are just that: Historically Black! While Hampton should not and NEVER HAS discriminated against any race in admissions it does not need to target any particular race or make efforts to reach out to non-Black student enrollees. I was recruited to Hampton (Institute) from Brooklyn Technical High School, a school that had a sizeable Black student body, but definitely not a Black majority. Anyone in our session from those who were present: Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic and Black, could have expressed interest, and the recruiter never showed favoritism-which was correct on her part.

Hampton U has grown tremendously since my times there a couple of decades ago, and not just in student enrollment. From the move from Division II sports to Division I-AA to the beautiful Journalism facility, Engineering facility, new library and so much more, it all makes me want to have the opportunity to attend again. Hampton is far from antiquidated, and the article was obviously written with a heavy bias. Hampton need not be reactionary on this issue at all.

^^^ I'm sorry, but I completely disagree with you on the issue of HBCUs not needing to target other groups.

White colleges and universities are making EVERY effort to recruit minorities, especially Harvard. FAMU at one point was deemed to have Black students with the highest GPAs in the nation... guess who has them now? Not an HBCU. I believe it's Harvard. If PWCUs are doing every effort to recruit minority students (Blacks included) to their campuses, HBCUs NEED to respond back by recruiting other groups.

Had it not been for the Marching Wildcats, I would've never known anything about B-CC. Thank God for the band but it shouldn't be that way from the beginning. I should've heard of all HBCUs in Florida since my sophmore year, but I didn't. I didn't know Edward Waters existed until I got to Cookman. That is NOT good!

Yes, I am not Black. I am Hispanic and would love to see more Hispanics enjoy the great years I've enjoyed at Cookman. The problem? Some don't even know Cookman exists but know about Duke while North Carolina Central is right around the corner from Duke and they know about Florida State, while FAMU is probably a block away.

quote:

Originally posted by MJ:
^^^ I'm sorry, but I completely disagree with you on the issue of HBCUs not needing to target other groups.

White colleges and universities are making EVERY effort to recruit minorities, especially Harvard. FAMU at one point was deemed to have Black students with the highest GPAs in the nation... guess who has them now? Not an HBCU. I believe it's Harvard. If PWCUs are doing every effort to recruit minority students (Blacks included) to their campuses, HBCUs NEED to respond back by recruiting other groups.

Had it not been for the Marching Wildcats, I would've never known anything about B-CC. Thank God for the band but it shouldn't be that way from the beginning. I should've heard of all HBCUs in Florida since my sophmore year, but I didn't. I didn't know Edward Waters existed until I got to Cookman. That is NOT good!

Yes, I am not Black. I am Hispanic and would love to see more Hispanics enjoy the great years I've enjoyed at Cookman. The problem? Some don't even know Cookman exists but know about Duke while North Carolina Central is right around the corner from Duke and they know about Florida State, while FAMU is probably a block away.

Not trying to get personal but your parents and community should play a roll in that as well I am a native of orlando...born and raised and my parents exsposed me to every positive thing Black out there....My Mother a Cookman alumn and my Dad an alumn of Edward Waters aunts and uncles are alumns of Fl Memorial , FAMU and Spellman...my church is HBCU deep as well as my community and I find it hard to believe that no one in your community or no one that you are in contact with had a HBCU connection.....I wasn't recruited my an HBCU I recruited them.....I fell in love with Hampton when my sister 10 years my senior graduated from there at that point it was a no brainer for me that I would attend and graduate from Hampton.....now believe or not but Florida is one of Hampton's strongest Alumni Bases......just face it PWC colleges are recruiting you to get federal funds, win championships and to meet their quota not because they want you there.... As for the GPA data if you have less students that number should be higher and I think the GPAs at Harvard are going to be higher across the the board..think about it....But we all know that some of America's greatest leaders are products of HBCUs