Image: In her interview with ABC News affiliate WXYZ, Dr. Williams highlights the funding challenges Historically Black Colleges and Universities have faced over the years and their long-term impacts on HBCU students. “[HBCUs] have a long-standing history and tradition of being able to do more with less, but they should not have to do that,” Williams states. She cites recent research indicating that overall funding of HBCUs trail behind predominately white institutions by around 70%. Williams maintains that this disparity is caused by the different ways in which HBCU budgets are funded. Public HBCUs receive a large portion of their budgets from state governments, which Williams says have underfunded them. Private HBCUs depend more on private donations and philanthropy in addition to tuition revenue. Despite being tuition-driven, private HBCUs avoid tuition increases since they enroll more students who take out loans to attend college. Williams argues that substantial reform in state and federal policies are needed to help HBCUs survive financially and continue to serve its students and faculty. Dr. Krystal Williams is an assistant professor of higher education at the University of Georgia and is the director of the Education, Policy, and Equity Research Collective. Read the full article featuring Dr. Williams’ video interview here Type of News/Audience: General News
