Opportunities and Challenges at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Ufuoma Abiola, University of Pennsylvania, USAJacqueline Amparo, University of Pennsylvania, USAJoseph Barone, University of Pennsylvania, USADennis Daly, University of Pennsylvania, USATiffany Decker, University of Pennsylvania, USAChristian Edge, University of Pennsylvania, USAPaola 'Lola' Esmieu, University of Pennsylvania, USAYulanda Essoka, University of Pennsylvania, USAAlexandra Iannucci , St. Joseph's College, USABrandy Jackson, University of Pennsylvania, USAChanning Johnson, Tougaloo College, USAAndrew Martinez, Cornell University, USASarah Mullen, University of Pennsylvania, USAMatt Nelson, University of Pennsylvania, USASakinah I. Rahman, University of Pennsylvania, USAPhillip Scotton, University of Pennsylvania, USAAtiya Strothers, Rutgers State University, USAQuinton Stroud, University of Pennsylvania, USATyree Williams, University of Pennsylvania, USA

"This is a very thoughtful and informative collection of essays that tackles familiar issues and uncommon topics. It explores the multi-faceted diversity of Black college campuses and adds value to the rapidly expanding scholarship on an important sector of higher education." - Alvin J. Schexnider, former chancellor of Winston-Salem State University, USA, and author of Saving Black Colleges (2013). "Whereas the scholarship on HBCUs is limited, what is available typically paints them with a broad-brush stroke that is not always favorable. Luckily for those of us that understand the unique features of these institutions, Gasman and Commodore have done a masterful job of presenting a balanced and fair assessment of these schools. Their use of qualitative data in the context of quantitative measurements offers concrete evidence that a deeper dive is required beyond that of graduation and retention rates in order to truly appreciate the intrinsic value HBCUs offer." - Nelson Bowman III, Executive Director of Development, Prairie View A&M University, USA "Marybeth Gasman and Felecia Commodore have done something incredibly important with Opportunities and Challenges at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. They have provided an opportunity for a different set of voices from HBCU and higher education talent to be heard. This feat is not to be underestimated or ignored. I celebrate Marybeth and Felecia for not only producing this important literary contribution about HBCUs, but for also endeavoring to provide a platform for theses voices to tell their stories." - Michael J. Sorrell, Esq., President, Paul Quinn College, USA

• Introduction; Marybeth Gasman and Felecia Commodore 1. Black Colleges, Media, and the Power of Storytelling; Quinton Stroud 2. Spelman College: A Case Study of Student Retention Strategies; Sakinah I. Rahman 3. The Crisis: Decreasing Male Enrollment at Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Matthew Nelson and Phillip Scotton 4. Three Layers of Underrepresentation: Academic Pipeline Issues for African Americans; Ufuoma Abiola 5. White Faces in Black Places: HBCUs and the White Faculty Experience; Atiya Strothers 6. HBCU Young Alumni: Paying it Forward; Brandy Jackson and Jacqueline Amparo 7. Expanding the HBCU Legacy: Enrolling and Supporting the Rising Latino Population; Paola Esmieu and Andrew Martinez 8. Beyond the Fifth Quarter: The Influence of HBCU Marching Bands; Yuland Essoka 9. Study Abroad at HBCUs: Challenges, Trends, and Best Practices; Sarah Mullen 10. LGBT Centers on HBCU Campuses: Bowie State University; Joseph Barone 11. Leveraging Honors Programs at HBCUs; Channing Johnson and Tyree Williams 12. Black Greek Fraternity Experiences on Predominantly White and Historically Black Campuses: A Comparison; Dennis Daly 13. Black Lesbian Identity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Alexandra Iannucci 14. Not in My Backyard: Puritan Morality v. Puritan Mercantillism and its Impact on HBCUs; Tiffany N. Decker 15. Searching for Whitley Gilbert: Pluralism, Belles, Bourgeoisie Activism and Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Christian Edge 16. A Place at the Table: Etiquette and Invalidation in the Quest for Cultural Capital at Spelman College; Tiffany Decker