In response to critical needs and opportunities throughout the sector, The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice and The Center for the Study of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are launching the #RealCollegeHBCU coalition.

To address stem enrollment declines and enhance students and institutional wellbeing during the pandemic, #RealCollegeHBCU will build capacity and support for 10 HBCUs, including 6 Historically Black Community Colleges. Over the next six months, each institution will receive data- driven training in strategies for ensuring students’ basic needs are met.

The initiative’s leader, Dr. Ashley Gray, is a Senior Learning Specialist and scholar-practitioner with deep experience in the sector. She and her team are supported in this work with investments from ECMC Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

“The launch of the #RealCollegeHBCU Coalition is an exciting and necessary initiative,” states Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS, Interim Dean, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. “We are so very proud of the partnership between The Hope Center and The Center for the Study of HBCUs. Their research is not only assessing the basic needs of college students across HBCUs but building a platform that schools can activate to ensure that HBCU students not only succeed but thrive.”

“Our latest report found that two-thirds of HBCU students are experiencing basic needs insecurity. #RealCollegeHBCU is our response—administrators, staff, faculty, and students at HBCUs deserve extensive support to address these pressing concerns. We aim to facilitate both institutional learning and structural change—including equitable state and federal funding for the sector,” said Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab, Founder and President of The Hope Center.

“As Director of the Center for the Study of HBCUs and an education researcher with strong racial justice commitments, I am truly excited about the ongoing partnership with The Hope Center at Temple University and our launch of #RealCollegeHBCU project. We are taking a stance against inequity and building institutional capacity at HBCUs. Right now is the right time to do this good work,” said Dr. Terrell L. Strayhorn, Provost, Senior Vice President of AcademicAffairs, and Director of the Center for the Study of HBCUs at Virginia Union University.

READ THE FULL REPORT ON BASIC NEEDS INSECURITY AT HBCUS HERE