State Legislature Acts to Boost Enrollments at Louisiana HBCUs
Filed in HBCUs on July 14, 2015
Historically Black four-year universities in Louisiana are getting some help in their efforts to boost enrollments. The Louisiana legislature has passed legislation that lowers tuition for students from outside of Louisiana who want to attend Grambling State University, Southern University in Baton Rouge, and Southern University in New Orleans.
Another bill passed by the legislature exempts HBCUs from the states GRAD Act requirements. Students in Louisiana who require remedial work to get them up to speed for college-level work are required to attend community colleges before they can enroll in four-year universities. But now these students will be able to enroll at four-year HBCUs. This provision will be for a two-year trial period.
Grambling State University estimated that the new legislation will result in a boost of enrollments by 300 students this fall.
I am concerned with the message being sent to Louisiana students who need remedial work be allowed to attend the HBCUs before going on to 4-year colleges. Though it was unsaid, I am sure they meant before they could attend white colleges. While it may boost enrollment at the HBCUs it also calls into question the credibility of the HBCUs and can actually compromise their importance in the education community as an institution of higher education.