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Wilson Challenges Black Colleges to Step Up
October 20th, 2009
The Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) pulled no punches when he met with a group of education officials.
John Wilson said in order for HBCUs to survive and compete for African-American students, the institutions have to stop whining about what they do not have and instead come up with innovative ways to raise money and recruit students.
From 2TheAdvocate.com
HBCUs must stop feeling sorry for themselves, he said, and switch their focus from playing violins to trumpets.
“We play the violin too much,” Wilson said. “We think people owe us something.”
Many HBCUs are facing financial difficulty due to declining enrollment and increasing costs. The recession has also tightened the wallets of businesses and charities that typically donate and support HBCUs.
Wilson also called out HBCU alumni who “will go to Homecoming” but refuse to give back to their alma mater.
A lot of that is a failure of the colleges to treat their students and alumni well, he said.
“If they (students) have built up an attitude with the financial aid office, which had an attitude with them, they’re going to leave here with an attitude and they’re not going to write a check,” Wilson said. “They’re going to come back for Homecoming, but they’re not going to open their checkbooks.”
Wilson is a graduate of Morehouse College.
HBCU’s must understand that people want excellence, standards, and what seems or appears to be the best. For these schools to succeed they must be willing to take a loss and drop students and staff who can’t perform. I know this sounds hard, but, it has proven to work…Even Jesus understood this concept.
Secondly, as the article stated they must take care of their students and alumi. And, they must stop hiring unqualified people in various positions. The last time I visited a HBCU I noticed too many unprofessional people in positions and Ghetto induced students…Raise a standard and watch your schools change. If not, they will suffer and eventually fade in the wind.
Oh yeah, change the dress code in most of the schools..Get rid of any Ghetto look. It only hurts your Image as HBCU’s.
O I so agree.! I will graduate this December from an HBCU. The only complaints has been about the financial aid office and the administration. They are extremely RUDE. My tuition was paid for up until a week ago when a instate surcharge was tacked on. What is a instate surcharge?! I do plan on giving back to my school. I will give back to my community in general. However, these HBCU’s have given themselves a bad name by living up to stereotypes and allowing students to walk around campus acting like fools rather than instilling self pride rather than school pride.
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