As someone who has served on the boards of institutions like Morgan State University and The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), I have a unique vantage point on the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, particularly as it pertains to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Our nation’s HBCUs are a cornerstone of Black culture, innovation, and community, and their role in shaping the future of our young people cannot be overstated.
As we look to the future under another Trump administration and his proposed Project 2025, it’s clear that HBCUs will face a crossroads—one that will require careful navigation between challenges and opportunities.
The Legacy of HBCUs in American Higher Education
First, let’s remember that HBCUs have always been more than just academic institutions. They are incubators for future leaders, champions for social justice, and vital community pillars.
Morgan State University, for instance, stands as one of the proudest examples of how an HBCU can drive not only academic excellence but also social and economic transformation.
These schools were founded in the wake of racial exclusion and have been instrumental in providing educational opportunities to African Americans and other marginalized groups.
As someone deeply involved with both Morgan State University and MICA, I understand firsthand the critical role these institutions play. They serve as a lifeline for thousands of students who may not otherwise have access to quality education or career opportunities.
Whether it’s through programs in business, engineering, art, or science, technology, engineering, and math, HBCUs remain some of the most effective pipelines to upward mobility for underrepresented communities.
The Trump Administration’s Approach to HBCUs: A Mixed Legacy
During the first term of President Donald Trump’s administration, HBCUs were not overlooked, but the support they received came with mixed results.
On the one hand, Trump’s administration took notable steps to provide increased funding and attention to HBCUs through initiatives like the HBCU Capital Financing Program and executive orders designed to streamline access to federal grants.
His efforts to directly engage with HBCU leadership were commendable, with meetings at the White House aimed at fostering a more direct relationship between the administration and HBCU leaders.
Yet, these efforts were often overshadowed by broader policies and rhetoric that failed to fully address the systemic inequities faced by Black Americans, and at times even undermined the values of inclusivity that HBCUs stand for.
The Trump administration’s aggressive stance on race and social justice issues often sparked tensions with Black communities and university leaders, making it hard to fully embrace the administration’s purported support for HBCUs.
As we look ahead to the possibility of Project 2025—Trump’s vision for a second term and a radical shift in the nation’s policies—it’s essential to ask:
What will the future of HBCUs look like under this administration? What can we expect for the institutions that have long served as a foundation for African American education and empowerment?
The Risks of Project 2025: A More Conservative, Market-Driven Approach
At the core of Project 2025 is a vision that is deeply rooted in market-driven education reform and a decentralized approach to governance.
Trump’s team has repeatedly voiced intentions to strip federal oversight in education, promoting state and local control. For HBCUs, this could present both opportunities and significant risks.
On one hand, the autonomy that Project 2025 promises could allow HBCUs to chart their own course more effectively, free from bureaucratic entanglements.
It could allow for more tailored curricula and the ability to innovate in ways that are aligned with the unique needs of their students and communities.
As an advocate for economic development and entrepreneurship in the African American community, I can appreciate the potential for HBCUs to lean into workforce development, vocational training, and high-demand sectors like AI, cybersecurity, and healthcare.
However, a decentralized approach to funding and regulation could have a devastating effect on the financial stability of many HBCUs, which rely heavily on federal funding to supplement their operations.
HBCUs have historically faced significant financial challenges, often operating with less funding per student than their predominantly white counterparts.
Under Project 2025, the possibility of reduced federal funding for Pell Grants and other financial aid programs, coupled with an increased emphasis on state-level funding, could force many of these institutions into even more precarious financial positions.
As someone deeply committed to supporting the long-term viability of HBCUs, I fear that Project 2025’s market-driven approach may prioritize institutions that cater to wealthier, predominantly white students, leaving HBCUs to struggle with less federal and state support.
The result could be an ever-widening educational divide that leaves underrepresented communities behind.
Opportunities Amid Challenges: Leveraging Innovation for HBCUs
Despite these challenges, there are significant opportunities for HBCUs in the era of Project 2025, especially if we approach it with a focus on innovation, empowerment, and entrepreneurship.
STEM and Workforce Development: With the right leadership, HBCUs can become key players in the AI, cybersecurity, and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education sectors.
During my time on the boards of Morgan State University and MICA, I saw the power of partnerships between academia, the private sector, and government in fostering economic development.
HBCUs are ideally positioned to train the next generation of Black engineers, scientists, and tech innovators, particularly if they are empowered with the resources to do so.
Project 2025’s emphasis on workforce development could allow HBCUs to shine as hubs of innovation, providing training that directly addresses the needs of the modern economy.Autonomy and Curriculum Flexibility: While the decentralization of education funding may seem threatening, it also presents HBCUs with the opportunity to create more specialized and innovative academic offerings.
For example, universities like Morgan State could expand their curricula to include cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, offering specialized programs that cater to the specific needs of the African American community.
Autonomy also means that HBCUs could more easily establish industry partnerships and create experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for real-world jobs.
Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment: HBCUs have always been incubators of Black entrepreneurship.
Under Project 2025, HBCUs could develop stronger ties to local businesses and industries, ensuring that students have access to jobs, internships, and mentorship programs that lead to successful careers.
This economic empowerment model could revitalize local communities and create a sustainable cycle of growth, with HBCUs at the center.
Standing Strong in the Face of Uncertainty
As we look to the future, the question is not whether HBCUs will survive, but how they will evolve. Under the Trump administration and Project 2025, there will be both challenges and opportunities.
It’s incumbent upon us—educators, community leaders, and policymakers—to ensure that the next chapter for HBCUs is one of empowerment, innovation, and sustainability.
If we approach the future with a clear vision, leveraging our legacy while embracing new opportunities, HBCUs will continue to thrive and lead the way in providing accessible, quality education to those who need it most.
Through innovation, perseverance, and community support, the HBCUs of tomorrow can emerge stronger than ever—creating a brighter future for all.
***On September 16, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced additional federal investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) totaling $1.3 billion. With these new investments, combined with the previously announced $16 billion in total federal investments in HBCUs, the Biden-Harris Administration set a record of over $17 billion in federal investments in HBCUs from Fiscal Years (FY) 2021 through current available data for FY 2024.
