HBCUs

A new Lower Oxford Township ordinance requires a formal permit for any event expected to draw more than 500 people, such as Lincoln's homecoming celebration. According to the HBCU, this ordinance violates the community's First Amendment rights by unjustly restricting Lincoln's ability to host gatherings essential to its academic mission.

MacAir Aviation, a flight training school at the Greene County-Lewis A. Jackson Regional Airport in Xenia, Ohio, has signed a new agreement to provide the flight instruction component of Wilberforce's forthcoming aviation program.

Under a new agreement, Lincoln University of Missouri will offer three certificate programs in cybersecurity, mental health for first responders, and geospatial information science to students at Fort Leonard Wood, a U.S. Army base in the Ozarks.

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.

Darrin Martin has led Bluefield State University since 2023. He was recently fired by the HBCU's board of governors after concerns were raised regarding the university's fiscal stability.

Dr. Farmer has served as dean of the School of Dentistry at Meharry Medical College in Nashville for the past 11 years. She has more than three decades of experience in dental practice and education.

Meharry Medical College's new A.B.L.E Clinic provides specialized care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a population facing disproportionate levels of tooth decay and complex oral health issues.

Fayetteville State University has opened a new $69.3 million facility to serve as the new home for the HBCU's College of Education. The four-story, 72,000-square-foot building was funded through capital appropriations from the North Carolina General Assembly.

In April, Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh, North Carolina, filed for bankruptcy. Although the HBCU had initially planned to offer some certificate and apprenticeship programs, the university has now canceled all classes for the Fall 2026 semester to reduce payroll and other expenditures.

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.

Although HBCUs represent 9 percent of all four-year bachelor-degree-granting institutions in the 21 states and U.S. territories where they are located, these colleges and universities awarded 28 percent of all STEM bachelor's degrees earned by Black students in the 2022–2023 academic year.

The deans are Gregory D. Goins at North Carolina A&T State University's College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Michael L. Jones at Hampton University's School of Nursing, Chance M. Glenn Sr. at Wilberforce University's College of Engineering, Britaney S. Lott at Voorhees University's School of Business & Entrepreneurship, and Cheryl A. Thaxton at Winston-Salem State University's School of Health Sciences.

William “Bill” Walker Jr., president of Arkansas Baptist College, has been fired. He began his presidency in October 2025 following eight years as a member of the HBCU's board of trustees.

Simmons College of Kentucky has established seven new master's degree programs offered in an accelerated, flexible format. Four degrees (ministry, business administration, organizational leadership, and medical science) are currently available, while the remaining three (clinical counseling, education, and teaching) are coming soon.

At North Carolina Central University, Tryan L. McMickens is a new associate dean in the School of Education. Katrina Smith and Nakia Davis are taking on associate dean roles in the School of Law.

Undergraduate students at Bowie State University can now major in artificial intelligence. The HBCU's new bachelor's degree program aims to prepare students to develop, evaluate, and implement intelligent technologies while addressing the societal and ethical implications of AI.

As the first HBCU to join Siembra Mobile's College Connect network, Claflin University can now connect with parents and students from Siembra's partnering school districts via a free mobile app. Participating students can learn about Claflin's admissions, scholarships, events, and other academic opportunities as early as ninth grade.

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.

Starting in the Fall 2027 semester, up to 10 high school junior students from local counties will begin online courses for Bethune-Cookman University's nursing curriculum. After their high school graduation, they will be able to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing in only three years.

“Workforce readiness is a key priority for the university” said Albany State University President Robert O. Scott. “By offering high-quality programs in critical fields, we are equipping our students with the knowledge and skills needed to lead, innovate, and make meaningful contributions in their communities and professions.”