By now, we've compared and contrasted HBCUs with PWIs. And, while many of you argue that HBCUs are a better academic and social environment - they are not without their problems. Please identify one major problem you feel is common on an HBCU campus. Why do you believe that is the case, and how do you propose to solve it?
Due: Fri., 11/2/18 by the beginning of class.
One major problem that I feel is common on an HBCU campus is enrollment and the value proposition. That is simply because HBCU’s were founded during segregation, discrimination, and a great amount of inequality. It is simply that African-American males and females are given space, community, and family to succeed in and are always standing against the prodominently white institutions. Truthfully, there are top HBCU’s and PWI’s seeking similar education and opportunities but more than likely jobs seek to obtain employees for their own reasonings and most of those times being the PWI student. Given that the blacks have foresakenly been treated misfairly for almost their entire lives it becomes a burden to see so many of the prodominently white race want to attend your HBCU. Colleges make it known to have recruit only the best of the best into their institutions and there are no racial disturbances but now it is important for Black college students to reiterate why education at historically black colleges is still valuable. -Jayla M.
ReplyDeleteA major problem I believe is common with HBCU's is the actual social atmosphere, I believe that even though we go to an HBCU because we want to be with people just like us and that may share the same view points as one another with society, we still can be judging of one another and tend stick with just a specific "clique" of people. For example if someone was in the cafe eating alone how many people do you think would actually walk up to that person and make conversation ? I feel we tend to only vibe with one another through events like Homecoming and parties not on a day to day basis. I just feel as if we should step out of our comfort zone a little bit mores also understand that not everyone can be trusted another are snakes in this world but some people justly need that someone to talk to or relate with. - Lexus F.
ReplyDeleteOne major problem I believe is common with HBCU's is a lack in funding. All though most historically black colleges are financially stable, we still undergo unequal funding by the government. The government doesn't fund HBCU'S with as much money as they do PWI'S. Having more money would help better programs and increase the number of programs offered at that particular university. If the government isn't going to help us out as much, then I think we should do annual or monthly fundraisers to help raise money that can go towards a greater need.I also feel as if Alumni of HBCU's should want to help their school out and donate money to help better that school.- Cinsear Saunders
ReplyDeleteOne major problem I see on the campus of HBCU's is their disorganization. While the school looks great, they lose forms and processing is a lot slower. I think a way to fix this issue is to either hire people who are more knowledgeable about their work or develop a more organized system so that things can stay in place. There could be a way of getting mailed items immediately into the system without a person having to do anything. I feel a machine should be able to put everything together and all the people have to do is type in names to find information. I think the employees should be able to answer questions better than they do and HBCU's are more organized they will prosper in nature as well.
ReplyDeleteA major problem I feel is common on an HBCU campus is the organization. The school focusses all of their attention on promoting the school and portraying all the good aspects of attending the school, but lack the structural part of paperwork. For example, I applied to several universities and I received an email from every school stating I've been accepted or to check my account through their school. Months had passed and I hadn't received anything from A&T. I finally called one day, and they had just sent my acceptance letter before I called. I believe this is a great problem that will remain a problem because HBCU's are all about "the culture." They are constantly creating new ideas to simply prove that we're all for our culture. One way to solve this would be to assign a group of people who are already in charge of paperwork, deadlines. Just like us students have to meet our deadlines for assignments, the staff should have deadlines to complete certain tasks as well. -Kiara Murphy
ReplyDeleteOne major problem I tend to see with HBCU's is the disorganization especially when it comes down to applying to the school. I feel like the school focuses so much on just promoting the school and showing off the different aspects of it, that they forget students need help with the loads of paperwork. For example, I applied to WSSU and all of the paperwork was so overwhelming for me along with my parents. The faculty and staff never helped us when it came down to asking questions about paperwork and how to properly fill it out the first time. When it came time for me too transfer to A&T the staff was very welcoming and opened to any questions and even sat down to help fill out the paperwork. I think overall HBCU's are just going to have this problem of organization all around just because it so much going on. One way to solve this problem is to hire people that takes the time to help people that are struggling with the paperwork process along with being organized with the paperwork as well. It will stop a lot of the chaos that we have during the academic year.
ReplyDeleteKenadi, if I didn't know your story, I wouldn't know this was you because you didn't ensure your name appeared.
DeleteI feel that a big problem with HBCUs is the dropout rate. HBCUs have a significantly low graduation rate compared to PWIs. I believe that there are multiple reasons for this. The biggest reason is the national average income for blacks is lower than all other races. This means that a lot of students that attend HBCUs can't afford the expensive tuition. Students feel that they would rather go ahead and get a job instead of building up debt. I feel that this can be solved by getting HBCU employees to educate their students about all of the possible resources of financial aid. If students were more aware of how they can fund their college experience, they will more than likely stay. -Dyonne J.
ReplyDeleteI feel that a big problem with HBCUs is the general disorganization. As a transfer student, the process upon being accepted was extremely disorderly. I've had a lot of issues with my financial aid paperwork being lost or delayed because I had unknowingly spoken to the wrong person. Although transferring to A&T has been one of the best decisions I've made thus far in my educational career, it is very frustrating seeing the organizational differences between an HBCU and PWI. I think school pride and events are pushed so much that certain things fall by the wayside-- and I've heard similar experiences from my friends that attend other HBCUs. I think a solution to the issue would be to set up peer seminars where new and transfer students can hear the experiences of students who have dealt with these issues, to create awareness and encourage students to play a more active role when it comes to registration, paperwork, etc. By encouraging students to be more assertive when it comes to paperwork, there may be less room for issues. -- Doris McGarry
ReplyDeleteI feel a big problem at HBCUs is homophobia and the lack of respect and rights we have on campus. There isn't really a solution to it because you can't change peoples views or make them like/accept anything but I do feel we need the respect we deserve. Being black and gay is already hard enough as it is, I want to feel safe and accepted everywhere I go and even if you don't accept it, at least give me the respect to leave me alone. The LGBT community are people as well, we deserve to treated the same as any other person and given the same rights as others and that goes to HBCU staff. The staff here, from what I've seen, doesn't give the LGBT community the same rights they give everyone else and its sad. I don't always feel safe at the place I'm supposed to feel the safest. Society has placed this "recipe" on how a black man should be and being gay is not apart of that. Being gay is looked at as a disappointment, not to all but many. People look down on us as if we are beneath them or less than them and its disgusting. I know in some cultures it is unacceptable to be homosexual and that could take part in as to why people are the way they are but it all falls down to respect. I haven't done anything, said anything or, tried anything so leave my gay ass alone. I wish people could be more open minded but I understand it takes time and patience. We just have to keep fighting and letting it be known that we are here and we aren't going anywhere either. -Terris B.
ReplyDeleteOne major problem I see with HBCUs are being unorganized when I was accepted as a freshman and filled for financial aid the process was a hassle. They was telling me and my parents that everything was complete then they would so we have to finish something and else and give us some more unknown information to fix or turn in.
ReplyDeleteOne major problem at HBCUs is funding. We do not receive a lot of financial support from the government. It's really sad how we can never receive the same treatment as others. With more money we can have so much more. With more financial support we can have bigger campuses with quality dorms, student activities, better cafeteria food, and many more student programs. Society looks at HBCUs for the culture but receiving jobs "are not always guaranteed", I feel that is false. From my knowledge I heard that a lot of students here at NCAT receive several summer internships that actually benefits them into claiming an entire career path. Although, we may not have all the money need we still strive to become successful. -Avani M.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know about every other HBCU but a great problem at my HBCU is the fact that our visitors can’t spend the night. I would like to think that something happened before that caused us to lose these privileges because I don’t see an actual problem with it. We’re grown and some of us have children that we would probably like to have on the weekends. I do believe that there should be a limit of how many days they can stay at a time, though. I propose that we sign petitions maybe and find ways to convince the head people to let us have overnight visitors. - Zaria Smith
ReplyDelete