University of Virginia Forms Stronger Ties With State’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Last week JBHE reported that the University of Virginia had embarked on a new program which guarantees admission to transfer students who complete a required curriculum at a state-operated community college in Virginia. The new program was designed so that blacks and low-income students with low SAT scores could still gain admission to the university if they demonstrated the ability to succeed at the college level.

In another effort to increase racial diversity on campus, the University of Virginia has established a program with five historically black colleges and universities in the state. Students from the black colleges will be able to participate in summer research programs at UVA with the hope that these efforts will serve as a feeder to graduate programs at the university. Exchange programs will be set up for students from the black colleges to take classes at UVA and for the University of Virginia students to take classes at one of the participating black colleges.

Under the plan there will also be increased interaction among student and social organizations on the campuses. Participating black colleges and universities are Hampton University, St. Paul’s College, Virginia Union University, Virginia State University, and Norfolk State University.

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