Monthly Archives: November 2018
Maryland HBCUs to Benefit From a New Scholarship Honoring a Murdered Black Student
The state of Maryland recently approved a new scholarship program honoring the legacy of slain Bowie State University student, 2nd Lt. Richard Collins III. Police have charged the assailant with a hate crime in the May 2017 incident on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park.
Justin Phillip Reed Wins 2018 National Book Award for Poetry
Justin Phillip Reed, a former junior writer-in-residence at Washington University in St. Louis, has received the 2018 National Book Award for Poetry. He is a graduate of Tusculum College in Greenville, Tennessee.
North Carolina A&T State University Partners With Forsyth Technical Community College
The initiative will provide Forsyth Technical Community College students with a seamless transfer transition to complete their undergraduate education at North Carolina AT&T. African Americans make up 23 percent of the student body at the community college.
Lt. James R. Polkinghorne Honored with Historic Marker at Florida A&M University
James R. Polkinghorne enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force right before his senior year at Florida A&M University. He completed pilot training at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama and in 1944 was sent to Italy as a squadron leader. During a combat mission, his airplane went missing and its crew was never found.
Elizabeth City State University Offers New Online Master of Education Degree Program
The program will be 100 percent online and will offer two concentrations; one for teacher leaders, and another for initial certification. The total tuition will be less than $7,000, making it one of the most affordable online graduate teaching programs in North Carolina.
Two African American Scholars Honored With Prestigious Awards
The honorees are Monica Walker, dean of development education and special academic programs at the Community College of Baltimore County, and Brandon Gamble, dean of student success at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama.
In Memoriam: Olivia Juliette Hooker, 1915-2018
During World War II, Dr. Hooker became the first Black woman to serve on active duty with the United States Coast Guard. She used her G.I. benefits to fund her graduate education at Columbia University and the University of Rochester. Professor Hooker served on the faculty at Fordham University in New York from 1963 to 1985.
Online Articles That May Be of Interest to JBHE Readers
Each week, JBHE will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week’s selections.
Recent Books of Interest to African American Scholars
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. The books included are on a wide variety of subjects and present many different points of view.
University of New Hampshire to Collect Data on Hate Crimes in America
The researchers will analyze what types of crimes and offenders are being investigated by law enforcement agencies across the country, and which law enforcement policies and practices seem to be promising in terms of responding to these crimes and protecting victims.
Princeton University’s New Program Aims to Diversify the Architecture Field
Less than 2 percent of the nation's registered architects are Black. To increase diversity in the field, Princeton University has launched its ArcPrep program that provides support, guidance, and academic and cultural enrichment to high school students who are typically underrepresented in the discipline.
A Major National Initiative to Close the College Achievement Gap by 2025
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities has organized a collaborative effort in which 130 public universities and systems will work together to increase college access, close the achievement gap, and award hundreds of thousands more degrees by 2025.
“White Racial Literacy Project” Aims to Involve More White People in Racial Equity Conversations
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis has launched a new initiative, called the White Racial Literacy Project. The effort aims to get White students more involved in conversations about racial equity.
In Memoriam: Gladys Hope Franklin White, 1916-2018
After a long career in education, Dr. White retired from North Carolina A&T State University and founded Project CARE, an SAT/ACT Prep project in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
The Gender Gap in Degree Attainments Among African Americans
There is a major gender gap in degree awards at all levels among African Americans. In the 2016-17 academic year, Black women earned 66.9 percent of all associate's degrees, 64.1 percent of all bachelor's degrees, 70.1 percent of all master's degrees, and 68.4 percent of all research doctorates awarded to African Americans.
Three African Americans Named Rhodes Scholars
A year ago, 10 African-Americans were among the 32 winners of Rhodes Scholarships for Americans. This was the most ever elected in a single U.S. Rhodes class. This year, there are three African Americans among the 32 Rhodes Scholars.
What Went Wrong at the University of Missouri and How to Avoid Similar Campus Crises
A recent report from the American Council on Education has examined what led to the University of Missouri's 2015-2016 racial crisis and how the institution responded to what happened in the ensuing period.
A Trio of African Americans Appointed to Dean Positions at Colleges and Universities
James Frazier will be the next dean of the College of Fine Arts at Florida State University. Toniette Haynes Robinson has been named dean of educational resources at North Lake College and Sylvester Williams will be the new dean of the College of Business and Management at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania.
Do White Liberals “Talk Down” In Order to Connect With Black Audiences?
A study led by a researcher at the Yale School of Management has found that White Americans who hold liberal political views tend to use language that makes them appear less competent in an effort to connect with racial minorities.
Ebonya Washington Named the Samuel C. Park Jr. Professor of Economics at Yale University
Dr. Washington has taught at Yale since 2004, when she joined the faculty as an assistant professor of economics. Prior to her most recent appointment, she was the Henry Kohn Associate Professor of Economics.
Elizabeth City State University to Offer a New Bachelor’s Degree in Homeland Security
After gaining final approval from its accrediting agency and the Department of Education, Elizabeth City State University will be the first four-year public educational institution in North Carolina to offer a four-year homeland security undergraduate program.
Cheyney University Remains on Probation But Will Retain Accreditation
Under commission rules, this is the last extension that Cheyney will obtain. It must submit a report to the commission by August showing that it has addressed the commission's concerns. A final decision on the university's accreditation status will be made in November 2019.
Jeffrey Stewart Wins a National Book Award for His Biography of Alain Locke
Jeffrey C. Stewart is a professor in the department of Black studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He won the National Book Award for his biography of Harlem Renaissance leader and Rhodes Scholar Alain Locke.
New Roles in University Administration for Five African Americans
Appointed to new administrative posts are Cheryl Isaac at Pennsylvania State University, Brandon Martin at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Makayla McMorris at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Delores Richardson Harris at North Carolina Central University, and Marco Barker at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Knoxville College Offers Classes for the First Time Since 2015
Historically Black Knoxville College in Tennessee has reopened for business. But there are no students on campus. The college is only offering classes online.
Honors and Awards Bestowed on a Trio of African American Administrators in Higher Education
The honorees are Franchon Glover, chief diversity officer at the College of Willliam and Mary, A. Eugene Washington, chancellor for health affairs and CEO of Duke University Health System, and Tony Allen, provost ane executive vice president at Delaware State University.
Recent Books of Interest to African American Scholars
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. The books included are on a wide variety of subjects and present many different points of view.
Online Articles That May Be of Interest to JBHE Readers
Each week, JBHE will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week’s selections.
University of Missouri Names Two Dormitories After African Americans
Lucile Bluford was denied admission into the journalism graduate program 11 times on the account of the color of her skin. George C. Brooks was director of financial aid at the university for 17 years and participated in efforts to desegregate local restaurants.
St. Cloud State University Names Academic Building After its First Black Graduate
Ruby Cora Webster, the daughter of former slaves, was born in Ohio and moved with her family to St. Cloud, Minnesota, where she attended high school. Webster graduated from what is now St. Cloud State University in 1909 with a degree in elementary education.
The First Black Woman to Earn a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Michigan
With a background in chemistry, Dr. Sivels had not taken basic physic courses in high school or as an undergraduate at MIT. As a result, she he was not as well prepared for a graduate level program in nuclear engineering in comparison to her peers.
Washington and Lee University Removes Slaveholder’s Name From Building
Upon his death, John Robinson left his estate, farm, and 73 slaves to what is now Washington and Lee University. In 1836, the college sold the slaves and used the money to build Robinson Hall. Now the university is removing Robinson's name from the building which will now honor the school's first Black student.
Higher Education Grants or Gifts of Interest to African Americans
Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.
Racist Graffiti at Goucher College in Baltimore Threatens African American Students
The graffiti which contained a racial slur, included the dormitory room numbers where Black students lived. African Americans make up 15 percent of the undergraduate student body at Goucher College.
New Data on African American Degree Attainments in the United States
During the 2016-17 academic year, African Americans earned more than 349,000 degree awards at four-year U.S. postsecondary educational institutions. Blacks earned 9.6 percent of all bachelor's degrees, 10.2 percent of all master's degrees, and 8 percent of all research doctorates.
Keith Jackson Named Dean of the College of Creative Arts at West Virginia University
Dr. Jackson had been serving as interim dean since 2017. He has been a member of the music faculty at the university since 1995, serving as both a professor of music and director of the School of Music. He is active in both classical and jazz styles as a performer.
