Long gone are the days of “A Different World,” the iconic 90s sitcom and “Cosby Show” spinoff that brought the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities out of the shadows and into the spotlight.
Each week, fans saw HBCU life and culture in living color at the fictional Hillman College, from a Black fraternity step show on the yard to students protesting the apartheid government in South Africa. The show introduced a generation of Black college-bound students to a college environment designed exclusively for them.
But the world is different.
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A new United Negro College Fund survey has found that more than six in 10 College-bound high school students don’t know about the history and culture of HBCUs — institutions that have produced most of the nation’s Black doctors, lawyers, educators, and other professionals. The survey also found that many of them do not get much information about the schools from their school guidance counselors.
Of the students who said they were aware of schools like Howard University and North Carolina A&T University, all cited wanting to attend an HBCU to feel “like I belong,” according to the survey. About 70% of these students attributed their choice to encouragement from their family members.
“The pivotal role of K-12 schools in shaping students’ college aspirations and preparedness cannot be overstated,” Dr. Meredith B.L. Anderson, a co-author and director, K-12 Research, Advocacy at UNCF, said in a statement. “Teachers and school counselors carry considerable influence in guiding students through the college application process.”
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Who Knows About HBCUs? Who Doesn’t?
The UNCF survey was conducted among nearly 150 high school students, teachers, and counselors across seven high schools in the Northeast, Midwest, and Western regions of the country.
Most of the teachers and counselors surveyed said they were aware of HBCUs. But over 60% of the high school students said they either don’t know or have very limited knowledge about HBCUs.
In a statement, the UNCF said it reached out to a school district in the South, where a strong number of HBCUs are located, to participate in the survey. However, the district decided not to participate. Since the report took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, many school districts were preoccupied with maintaining operations.
The Role of School Counselors
Yet, 53% students said their school counselors either never or rarely suggested that they attend an HBCU, and 54% said the counselors rarely or never provided resources to attend these types of schools. Only 36% of students surveyed said they often or always talked about going to college.
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Researchers also found that teachers who examined disparities in their school’s data and pushed for fair school policies were more likely to support academically challenging coursework and college opportunities for students of color.
Increasing HBCU Awareness
The report offered several recommendations for high schools, school districts, and charter management organizations to increase students’ awareness of HBCUs. The recommendations included: training teachers to review school-wide data, engaging staff in anti-bias training, and exposing more students to scholarships, financial aid, and college affordability.
The report also recommended that HBCUs distribute financial aid and scholarships information to high schools, support schools with anti-bias training for teachers, and share academic and other resources from HBCUs with the community.
“We believe the findings of this study will contribute to dismantling barriers surrounding higher education and perceptions of HBCUs and build bridges between schools, communities and HBCUs to enhance college access for all K-12 students,” Dr. Tia Dolet, co-author and founder, Thirdspace Collective Consulting, LLC, said in a statement.