The White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Section 1.  Policy.  Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have made, and continue to make, extraordinary contributions to the general welfare and prosperity of our country.  Established by visionary leaders, America's HBCUs have, for more than 150 years, produced many of our Nation's leaders in business, government, academia, and the military, and have helped create a black middle class.  The Nation's more than 100 HBCUs are located in 20 States, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and serve more than 300,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.  These institutions are important engines of economic growth and public service, and they are proven ladders of intergenerational advancement. More...