Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been doing more with less for more than 150 years. Despite chronic underfunding, these institutions are engines of economic mobility for historically excluded students. When all variables are held constant, the graduation rate of Black students is 11 percentage points higher at HBCUs than at other colleges and universities.
HBCUs have achieved this success because they create a sense of belonging in a culturally affirming environment and provide unparalleled student engagement and support. But now, HBCUs must adapt their model to the post-pandemic world in which all colleges operate, which is increasingly online and driven by artificial intelligence (AI).
In these reports, Complete College America examines the critical role of digital learning infrastructure (DLI) at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and its impact on student success. Critical Connections calls for increased capital funding and investment in DLI at HBCUs, while Historically Black, Digitally Forward highlights the faculty, staff, and student voices calling for digital innovations at HBCUs.
Critical Connections: Funding HBCUs’ Digital Infrastructure Is Essential for Meeting U.S. College Completion Goals
Colleges and universities across the country must make significant capital investments to meet today’s digital demands. Critical Connections explains why this challenge is more complex for HBCUs than for predominantly White institutions (PWIs). It also details:
- What makes the HBCU model so successful.
- What can happen if states don’t make this investment in HBCUs: Digital transformation can become a privilege reserved for the most selective and well-resourced colleges, universities, and communities.
- Why colleges have more agency advocating for capital funding than for operational funding—and how HBCUs can leverage those opportunities.
In coming years, technology will be a critical tool to help colleges accelerate their student success efforts. CCA is committed to ongoing work with HBCUs and other Minority-Serving Institutions to secure adequate funding and facilitate the use of technology to maintain—and grow—their track record of success. With a strong financial base, these institutions can continue to lead the way in engaging students, from first contact through college completion and on to successful careers.
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Historically Black, Digitally Forward: Co-Designing Digital Learning Infrastructure for HBCUs
HBCUs excel at providing inclusive and supportive environments for Black students–and technology is important to support, not supplant, their strong in-person culture. Historically Black, Digital Forward report examines the critical role of digital learning infrastructure at HBCUs and its impact on student success. The report details:
- How HBCUs provide a model for student success through focused support and community-building.
- Recommendations for implementing and expanding digital learning infrastructure at HBCUs.
- Opportunities for future research to further understand and improve digital learning at HBCUs and other institutions.
By prioritizing student involvement and voices, HBCUs can continue to provide culturally responsive, relevant, and identity-affirming education in the digital age.
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Navigating Student Success Technology
A step-by-step curriculum for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) to untangle the complexity of implementing new technology.
