How Black Colleges Empower Black Students: Lessons for Higher Education 
Frank W. Hale, Jr., Ph.D.
Stylus Publishing, LLC. Sterling, VA. 2006.
$24.95. 231 pages. Soft cover.
Reviewed by Janet M. Hall
School Counselor
Mount Tabor High School (NC)
HBCUs: Do They Make a Difference?
The preservation of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) continues to be a controversial topic among legislators, higher education officials, alumni, and students. This volume of essays documents the history of HBCUs, their mission, and the practices and programs they use to strengthen their students. Hale and 28 other higher education administrators and faculty members share their personal and professional experiences with HBCUs. They hope to change the negative impressions many persons have about these institutions.
One of the core attributes of HBCUs is the personal interest they invest in their students. Many of them use the “it takes a village” concept to enhance the holistic development of their students. Some of the practices, strategies, and programs that HBCUs use to help students become confident, socially conscious individuals are listed below.
Strategies/Practices:
- Show genuine interest in students and assist with personal and academic needs
- Remove barriers that prohibit students from attaining optimal performance
- Use faculty, staff, peers, alumni, administrators and community partners as role models and mentors
- Recruit and retain African-American faculty
Encourage participation in activities (sororities, fraternities, student government associations)
- Focus on character development, self-improvement and civic responsibility
Programs:
- First Year Program
- Early Registration and Advisement
- Counseling
- Early Alert Program to identify students who are having academic difficulties
- Center for Academic Success (Oakwood College [CA])
- Residential Hall Living/Learning Centers (Oakwood College)
- Life Skills Development (Oakwood College) health issues, exercise, substance abuse
- Parent Partner Program (Oakwood College)
- Project CHEER (Fayetteville State)
- Bronco Men of Distinction Learning Community (first-generation males with low high school GPA/SAT scores)
- FSU Graduation Project (invite former students with 90 hours to return and complete degree)
- Sophomore Summer I (to increase the continued enrollment of students from the first year to the second year)
Limitations:
Information about the programs and strategies used at selected colleges are helpful. However, the inclusion of more programs in a wider geographical realm would be beneficial to students, parents, school counselors, and program planners in student affairs, academic affairs and residence life. Also testimonials from current students and recent graduates would provide a more powerful representation of the benefits and advantages of attending a HBCU.
Recommendations:
Due to the duplication of material, some of the chapters could be combined. A resource book of specialized programs at the 105 HBCUs would be beneficial.
Future use:
Each chapter provides references which could be helpful to persons researching African-American students.
Overall How Black Colleges Empower Black Students: Lessons for Higher Education is a good resource for understanding the mission of HBCUs, how they have survived against the odds and how they mold students into scholars, leaders, and productive citizens. Granted, HBCUs are not the “perfect fit” for all African-American students. However they have produced many successful lawyers, teachers, engineers, astronauts, medical professionals, and scientists. Despite their obstacles and criticisms, these institutions have served a great purpose in the past and will continue to be an asset to the higher education system in the 21st century.