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According to a White House official, historically black universities and colleges must play a pivotal role in bringing our country back on track and place it in the leadership position in the field of higher education.

In Atlanta recently, a Southern Education Fund conference was held by the presidents of HBCU. The main topic of discussion at this conference was how black institutions will aid our nation in achieving the objective. According to a Historically Black Colleges and Universities White House Initiative junior executive director John S. Wilson, HBCU’s are a critical component of our President’s goal to restore our prestigious ranking in the world.

Sadly, since the year 1995, we have not been number one even once said Wilson in a media briefing. Our country requires at least eight million more graduates. Out of this, African Americans will be two million in number. HBCUs will have to educate at least 200,000.

By the year 2020, HBCUs must essentially produce 50,000 graduates a year as compared to the current 36,000. This media briefing was attended by Presidents from various universities. All of them were unanimous in their opinion that the task was indeed daunting. Meeting the graduation goals is not going to be easy at all.

At least sixty percent of black students attend four year college according to the Council of Higher Education out of which 17 percent of black students are to be from the HBCU.  According to Kimbrough, HBCU that educates seventeen percent of a group is a significant entity that must be taken into account. It is therefore essential for this particular segment to take the mantle of leadership and strive hard to achieve the African American student completion goal in keeping with our President’s agenda.

Kimbrough also said that it is imperative for black colleges to show what they can do instead of being on the defensive. College Presidents were in agreement with this and they opined that though they have contributed significantly to the nation, they have lagged behind in telling their success stories.

President of the Mississippi based Tougaloo College; Hogan said that in their capacity as responsible citizens and outstanding leaders, they indeed contribute a lot to the society. Without their contributions in terms of products they turn out at the institutions, America will be unable to maintain national security or maintain competitiveness at a global level.

He said that though they come from different areas and look quite different from each other, what they do exceptionally well is to provide a wide database of students a great opportunity to succeed.
Charlie Nelms, the Chancellor of North Carolina Central University says that if HBCU intends to make a significant positive difference to the Obama initiative, it is time to make some substantial and crucial changes.

He went on to say that it is imperative to raise standards not just for the benefit of students but also for the overall benefit of chancellors, presidents, staffs, faculty and trustees. In other words, he said that it is vital for us to ensure a higher accountability level. Anything that will help our country revive our higher education system is definitely welcome.