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Leadership institute discusses future of HBCUs by Heather Murphy Public Relations What does it take to get congressmen, doctors, lawyers, college and university presidents, students, teachers, and concerned citizens all in one room? It may sound like an old joke, but when they’re all from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), there’s nothing funny about their uncertain future. “For more than 150 years, HBCUs have provided the best opportunity for African-Americans to attain affordable, quality education,” said Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) member and U.S. House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair James E. Clyburn. “The CBC, whose membership includes many HBCU graduates, recognizes the enormous contributions these institutions have made and commit themselves to ensuring they continue to thrive and serve future generations.” For the second year in a row, MUSC hosted the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute June 6 in the Basic Science Building auditorium. Like last year’s topic on health disparities, MUSC has a connection to this year’s topic as well. “The Office of Diversity works directly with South Carolina HBCUs in the recruitment of African-American talent to participate in a summer program for undergraduate students,” said Thaddeus Bell, M.D., diversity director. “By working with the HBCUs, we are enabling those students to gain an understanding of what it’s like to be in a professional atmosphere and what it’s like to compete in that atmosphere.” According to Bell, the most important aspect of the program is to introduce and thus help in the recruitment of high-caliber African-American students into health care. A second reason for the program is to foster better relations with HBCUs in general. For the fourth summer in a row, Bell and his colleagues welcomed freshman representatives from South Carolina HBCUs, as well as returning students from years past. “Five students who went through our program graduated last year,” Bell said. “Three of those five were recruited to the Medical University.” Bell, a proud graduate of South Carolina State and Atlanta University, recalls attending medical school at MUSC when many students and administrators believed that HBCUs offered less than quality education.  “It simply wasn’t and isn’t the case,” he said. “Of the first 10 African-Americans to graduate from MUSC, the majority graduated from HBCUs. “For me, attending an HBCU provided me with the nurturing and educational environment that I needed. I reflect back on that time today and realize what an immeasurable experience it was for me.” But like HBCUs, Bell’s program may be in jeopardy.  The Office of Diversity has applied for a grant to keep the program alive, but anticipates that by the end of July they will receive an answer to funding prayers. “This is a major initiative for the Office of Diversity and we will continue to ask for university and community support,” Bell said. With current trends in college admissions demonstrating a renewed student interest in smaller four-year colleges and universities, it seems that HBCUs have a unique opportunity to re-evaluate what they mean to academic and African-American communities. Tackling topics like financial stability, student recruitment and retention, faculty recruitment and development, research capacity development, physical facilities, fund-raising strategies, and collaboration among HBCUs, the attendees of the CBC meeting sought to determine the path of HBCUs into the 21st century. A common theme throughout the meeting emphasized that the survival of HBCUs was not a good enough goal.  Instead, HBCUs should be expected to prosper and grow, as well as remain a symbol of African-American struggle, heritage, and triumph. Describing those in attendance as the “conscience of this nation,” Alan Hastings, CBC member, encouraged individuals to take from the meeting not only the elation of feeling good on the behalf of HBCUs.  “Lots of us today will come and go and most of us won’t even remember we were here,” he said. “We’re all so proud of our achievements and fancy titles. But on many levels, we’re still functionaries at best. We need to standup and support these institutions that gave us a chance,” Hastings said. Keynote speaker Reed Tuckson, M.D., senior vice president of Consumer Health and Medical Care Advancement, United Group of Minneapolis, Minn., echoed Hastings. “We have truly reached a defining moment in African-American and American history,” Tuckson said. “Our ancestors founded HBCUs by finding a way out of no way. Back then, there was no question what HBCUs were all about. There was poise, concentration of talent and density of scholarship among people willing to do battle with forces that would keep African Americans down. “The fate of these institutions now lies with us. And we’ve become self-absorbed and complacent with our HBCUs. I fear we have too many meetings with uncertain agendas. I don’t think we’re scared, concerned, or upset enough about the fate of African American culture, community, or where it’s all headed. “If we’re not careful, HBCUs will become known only for social interaction and not intellectual stimulation. We don’t need HBCUs to survive because we need more museums, we need them to thrive and prosper because we need scholarship and learning in the African American community,” Tuckson said. Tuckson outlined his thoughts on what was needed to improve HBCUs including a reason to care, rational strategic planning, leadership, a belief in the competency of HBCUs, and the removal of malaise, silliness, and materialism of successful alumni. “You, as presidents and faculty, must hold us, the alumni, accountable. If you should need us, we must be committed to you and prepared to help in any and every way possible,” he said. As Tuckson concluded his address to thunderous applause, he said, “We have no time left. Our schools are in danger of becoming little insects caught in the amber of time, a plague in an empty field. Be focused, be disciplined, be angry, be tenacious, and be smart.”     Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.