Chapter 5: HBCU Pipeline to College Access: Considerations for the Twenty-First Century

According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, African-American student enrollment at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) has lagged behind that of Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) since the passing of desegregation legislation in the mid-twentieth century (USDE, 2010b). Fewer than 11% of African-Americans attended HBCUs in 2009 as compared to 83% in 1961 (Hill, 1985; United States Department of Education [USDE], 2010a). With more Black college students attending PWIs than HBCUs, many Americans question the relevance of HBCUs in a post-integration society. HBCU advocates such as Brown, Freeman, Gasman, and Minor have written countless narratives and conducted numerous studies illustrating the utility of this institution type in promoting holistic student development, academic achievement and personal success for African-American students. Nonetheless, their efforts have done little to sway public opinion or increase HBCU attendance (Aud et al., 2010; Gasman & Bowman, 2011; USDE, 2010a). The question then becomes how can HBCUs reestablish relevance and successfully market themselves in a competitive higher education market? This review of the literature looks at college choice, developmental education, and collaborative leadership to inform HBCU revitalization.