The public health emergency declared on January 31, 2020 and the national emergency declared on March 13, 2020 will end on May 11, 2023. Several waivers and flexibilities extended to colleges and universities will expire at the end of the payment period that begins after the date that the national emergency is rescinded. Institutions that intend to continue distance education programs launched during the pandemic, for example, may need approval from their accreditor after the pandemic ends. 

In a recent notice, Federal Student Aid (FSA) published a table in an effort to clarify if and when a third-party is subject to the Department of Education’s (Department) third-party servicer (TPS) requirements. The Department intends to step up oversight of TPS. May 1, 2023, is the deadline for an institution to report an arrangement with a TPS and the deadline for a TPS to submit a Third-Party Servicer Data Form. The public has 30 days to comment on this guidance.  In a letter to the Department, the American Council on Education (ACE) requested the comments and reporting deadlines be extended at least 30 days to give institutions more time to review their TPS contracts.  

Cybersecurity updates to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) go into effect June 9, 2023. FSA published guidance outlining which changes will impact institutions of higher education and how the Department intends to enforce the GLBA requirements. Non-compliance may impact an institution’s administrative capability and jeopardize participation in Title IV programs. In a recent announcement, FSA included links to a cybersecurity incident planning tool and a fact sheet on sanitizing and disposing media. 

The recent omnibus permits the Department to reserve a portion of funding from certain programs authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). The reserved funds will be used collect data to analyze those programs. The Department is seeking input on how best to implement this new authority. The Knowledge Alliance suggested disaggregating data in a manner that enhances the ability to see outcomes for subgroups of students. The Transition Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities had no suggestions but pointed out that it already collects data which it analyzes and publishes annually. It contended that it should be excluded from the process on that basis. Comments closed February 17, 2023.

The Department announced that it will rescind part of the free inquiry rule.  Critics alleged the controversial rule could cause the type discrimination it purported to prevent. A Department review determined it was unnecessary, unclear, and difficult to administer. The proposed rescission has been published in the Federal Register. The public is invited to comment. Comments close March 24, 2023.  

Higher Education advocacy groups responded to the Department’s request for information on methods of identifying low-value postsecondary programs.  The American Council on Education pointed out the limitations of existing data, difficulties with respect to privacy, and the regional variations in earnings , discrimination, and opportunities. New America Higher Education Program suggested generating a list based upon gainful employment data and requiring accreditors to review any program flagged by the Department. The Institute for Higher Education Policy suggested using rubrics developed by the Postsecondary Value Commission. UAspire cautioned against discouraging students who have work and familial responsibilities and need local educational options. Comments closed February 10, 2023.

The settlement in the Sweet v. Cardona class action lawsuit can move forward. Judge William Alsup denied a request by Lincoln Educational Services Corp., American National University, and Everglades College, Inc. to stay the settlement until their appeal was decided. The trio argued that the settlement tarnished their reputations and maintained that they should not have been included in it. 

A group of Paycheck Protection Program Loan borrowers have filed a class action lawsuit against Bank of America. They contend the bank gave incorrect instructions and approved loans and loan amounts that it should have known were ineligible for forgiveness.   

The National Labor Relations Board ruled that employers may not offer severance packages that stipulate employees must waive the rights afforded them under the National Labor Relations Act. This includes prohibitions against: participating in legal actions against the employer; disparaging the employer; disclosing the terms of the severance agreement; and disclosing or utilizing information made available during employment. The ruling signals a return to a long-standing interpretation of the statute that was upended by the Board’s decision in a case involving Baylor University Medical Center. 

The USDA published information to assist institutions in determining student eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits after the national emergency ends. 

The Small Business Administration announced changes to the HUBZone map will go into effect on July 1, 2023.  Eighty-five percent of HBCUs are located within qualified HUBZone areas.

The Department released the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) 2021 Annual Performance Report. The study confirms the impact the HEERF support had on students and institutions during the pandemic.  

The IRS announced that it will not consider special payments made by some states to support general welfare and disaster relief taxable income. Residents of 21 states had been asked to delay filing their returns while the IRS considered the tax status of general welfare and disaster relief payments.  The IRS also announced filing and payment deadlines have been extended to October 16, 2023 for those impacted by recent flooding, landslides, and mudslides in most of California and natural disasters in parts of Georgia and Alabama. 

Florida University System plans to vote on revisions to its tenure policy. The update, which critics say undermines the traditional concept of tenure, would require institutions to evaluate tenured faculty every three years. HBCU, Florida A&M University is part of the Florida University System.

Texas will not oppose US District Judge Mark Pittman's ruling that struck down a law that prevented adults 21 and under from carrying licensed handguns. The Texas Department of Public Safety launched but later dropped an appeal. Under the ruling, students of age may carry licensed handguns on public university campuses. 

West Virginia is poised to rescind a wholesale ban on carrying guns on public university campuses. Proposed legislation would maintain the ban on open carry but would allow permit holders to carry concealed guns on public campuses. Similar legislation has been enacted or is under consideration in other states. 

The University of Texas System announced it has paused creation of new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. This comes on the heels of a memo from Governor Abbot which asserted implementing DEI initiatives in hiring is illegal. However, it appears that neither Texas  labor law  nor federal law prohibits DEI. The president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education pointed out that the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title VI and Title VII, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act contain DEI initiatives. 

College Board stood by its Advanced Placement African American Studies course and took the Florida Department of Education to task for its initial condemnation of the course and subsequent attempt to take credit for changes made. The governor of Florida has threatened to pull funding for advanced placement courses offered by College Board and said the state may use a different vendor. 

The College and University Professional Association for Human Resources released a report on employee retention in higher education. The organization’s recommendations include: creating flexible work arrangements, carefully assessing and redistributing the workload of employees who are leaving, and promoting professional growth and avenues for advancement.

Striking graduate student workers rejected an offer from Temple University. The university is facing pressure from alumni to end the strike. Unionization continues to spread across the higher education sector, particularly among graduate student workers and adjunct faculty. However undergraduate employees may begin organizing as food and housing costs continue to rise faster than income. 

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Prairie View A&M University President Dr. Ruth Simmons, who had announced she would retire in June 2023, has resigned. Dr. Michael McFrazier, dean of the university’s Whitlowe R. Green College of Education, has been named acting president. Dr. Simmons will join Rice University as a president’s distinguished fellow. Dr. Tomikia P. LeGrande, who was named View A&M University president in December, will take the reins from Dr. McFrazier on June 1, 2023. 

South Carolina State University named Dr. Frederick Evans provost and vice president for academic affairs. He had been serving in that position on an interim basis. He previously served as a professor and as dean of the College of Graduate School and Professional Studies.

Harris-Stowe State University named Dr. Dimetri Horner provost and vice president of academic affairs. She is an experienced administrator and academic who hails from Strayer University where she served as associate vice provost of academics.

Howard University appointed Phylicia Rashad as the inaugural holder of the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities. Ms. Rashad is currently serving as dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts. 

Tennessee State University named Tasha A. Carson assistant vice president for first-year students in the Division of Enrollment Management. She recently served as the executive director of new student programs and retention. 

Fayetteville State University named Dr. Johnny Smith associate vice chancellor for external affairs. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Smith served at Pitt Community College as vice president for strategic initiatives and community engagement. 

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The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced its Connecting Minority Communities pilot program awarded 12 grants totaling over $30,000,000 to support technology upgrades, digital literacy initiatives, and the expansion of broadband connectivity. Several of the grants were awarded to HBCUs including: Coppin State University, H. Trenholm State Community College,  Simmons College of Kentucky, Elizabeth City State University, Saint Augustine’s University, Central State University, and Lincoln University of Pennsylvania.

NASA’s Data Science Equity, Access, and Priority in Research and Education program awarded $11,700,000 to eight HBCUs. The grants will be used to fund data science research that supports NASA’s missions. North Carolina A&T State University, Morgan State University, Florida A&M University, Bethune-Cookman University, Fayetteville State University, Lincoln University, North Carolina Central University, and Prairie View A & M University were the recipients. 

North Carolina A&T State University’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences has been selected as a co-principal investigator in a project aimed at improving the resilience of regional food systems. Dr. Chyi Lyi Liang will serve as co-principal investigator. Researchers at several institutions will participate, with Michigan State University leading the investigation. The US Department of Agriculture awarded the five-year project $10,000,000.

Texas Southern University created the Center for Transformative Health to improve health outcomes on the campus and in the surrounding community. The center will develop disease prevention and control initiatives and provide outreach, information and training. The City of Houston awarded the center $1,000,000 to support its mission. The US Department of Health and Human Services awarded the center $2,000,000 to study health equity in Houston’s Third Ward neighborhood.

Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) was selected to lead a University Transportation Center (UTC) with the goal of improving the durability and extending the lifespan of the nation’s infrastructure. As the lead institution for the UTC, PVAMU will collaborate with seven other institutions including three from the Texas A&M University System. PVAMU is the first HBCU to lead a UTC. The US Department of Transportation awarded the center a $4,000,000 per year five-year grant. Dr. Judy Perkins will serve as director.

Bowie State University will receive $1,589,014 from the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program. The award will be used to increase the number and success of black male educators preparing to serve in early childhood, special education, and general K-12 classrooms. Although the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program was created in 2008, this is the first time Congress has allocated funds for it.

National Science Foundation’s Expanding Capacity in Quantum Information Science and Engineering program has awarded three HBCUs grants to establish and lead quantum information science and engineering programs in their regions. The program in Arkansas will be located on the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff campus. The NSF recently updated the program requirements and is accepting proposals for the next round of funding. 

Johnson C. Smith University received a $943,000 grant to support its Lactation and Doula Program. The award was made by the county of Mecklenburg using American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding. 

Meharry Medical College received $500,000 from Oracle to support a scholarship fund for Meharry School of Applied Computational Sciences.

Morgan State University’s School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences received a $420,000 grant from the Army Research Office to study pulmonary fibrosis and other respiratory diseases. The project’s principal investigator is Dr. Mingchao Cai. 

LeMoyne-Owen College received $25,000 donation from the Memphis Baptist Congress of Christian Education. The organization is headed by Ms. Annetta A. Hamilton, who is the first woman to hold that office and a graduate of LeMoyne-Owen College. 

The NSF Expanding Capacity in Quantum Information Science and Engineering (ExpandQISE) program is accepting proposals. To have your project considered for funding under this program submit a letter of intent by March 10, 2023. The deadline for submission of a full proposal is April 24, 2023. 

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Kudos to all HBCUs for providing their campuses and surrounding communities with excellent opportunities to learn about and celebrate the culture, contributions, and lives of Black people during Black History Month this year. Thank you!

Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands (AOB) won a Grammy Award in the category Best Roots Gospel Album for the Urban Hymnal . The AOB is the first collegiate marching band to win in the Best Roots Gospel Album category. Fisk University Jubilee Singers won the Grammy in the same category for their Celebrating Fisk! album in 2021. The AOB marching band received a second award for its contribution to J. Ivy’s album, the Poet Who Sat By the Door, which won in the Best Spoken Word Poetry Album category. The university hosted a parade in AOB’s honor.

Elizabeth City State University paid tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen by incorporating a special tribute to the pilots on each plane in the university’s fleet. The university offers a bachelor degree in aviation science and unmanned aircraft systems. It is one of only 40 institutions in the world to offer an aviation degree that is accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International and the only such program in the state of North Carolina. 

Shaw University was in the spotlight for this year’s HBCU Sunday. The annual event is hosted by the Alfred Street Baptist Church. Dr. Paulette Dillard, president of Shaw University, was the guest speaker.

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The National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) is collaborating with Amesite, an artificial intelligence software company, to provide a platform to power its Center for Opportunity and Equity’s Learning Community Environment. Alabama State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Clark Atlanta University, and the University of the District of Columbia have joined the center. The pilot program launched at Benedict College. NAFEO plans to support the center with a $30,000,000 fundraising campaign. 

Meharry Medical College launched the Global Health Equity Institute, which will provide opportunities for research and advanced education. Health policy expert, Daniel E. Dawes will lead the institute. The college intends to open a school of global public health by 2026. 

Meharry Medical College is partnering with Heritage Group, a private equity firm to offer educational and entrepreneurial opportunities to students. The goal is to provide students with a better understanding of finance, investment, and entrepreneurship in the health care industry. Members of the Heritage Group will help students develop entrepreneurial skills, conduct market research, execute due diligence, and refine an investment thesis. 

Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) will partner with Delta Air Lines to offer students an accelerated path to aviation careers. Delta Air Lines’ Propel Pilot Career Path Program provides qualified students with conditional job offers and an expedited path to launching their careers. ECSU is one of several universities that partners with the airline to offer this opportunity.

Bowie State University is participating in NASA’s Technology Transfer University program (T2U). As part of the program, students uses NASA's portfolio of patents to explore commercialization, licensing, entrepreneurship and marketing. T2U at Bowie State University will offer business students the chance to develop marketing strategies for a contaminated water treatment device and a self-cleaning germicidal door handle. Bowie State University is the fifth HBCU to participate in the T2U program. Other participating HBCUs include Alabama A&M University, Florida A&M University, Texas Southern University, and Hampton University. The T2U program has made a number of licensing opportunities and startup companies possible. 

Lane College and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center have created a pathway for students who have earned their associate’s degree at Lane College to complete their nursing training at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Lane College amended its course offering to include a track for pre-nursing in the biology major. The initiative will provide students with the option to pursue a doctorate after obtaining their baccalaureate degree. 

Prairie View A&M University will offer a bachelor of science and a bachelor of arts in public health. The new majors are intended to aid in the reduction of local, national, and global health disparities. The university will train students to become public health professionals capable of developing strategies that address health issues and their underlying environmental and socioeconomic causes. Prairie View A&M University will be the first HBCU in Texas to offer such a program.

Wiley College announced it has restarted its on-site adult learner completion program which was paused during the pandemic. The program provides opportunities for adults to complete a bachelor of business administration in organizational management and a bachelor of arts in criminal justice administration. Candidates are typically older employed individuals who have some college credit. Classes will be held at the Magnolia School of Excellence in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Bowie State University launched the W.E.B. Du Bois Center for the Study of the Black Experience. The center will promote Africana Studies by collaborating with other institutions, hosting relevant conferences, developing academic programs, and supporting interdisciplinary research.  

Morris Brown College and the John Marshall Law School signed an articulation agreement that enables qualified students to seek application guidance and receive priority admission. 

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The NCAA and EPIC Risk Management are working together on programming aimed at maintaining the integrity of competitions while protecting student athletes from gambling addiction and harassment related to their performance. As more states legalize gambling, experts fear addiction among students will increase. They recommend administrators develop and publicize gambling policies.

The NCAA will no longer require Division I and Division II student athletes to earn a minimum SAT or ACT score. The requirement had been waived during the pandemic. The policy goes into effect for students who enroll on or after August 1, 2023. 

 Bowie State University received an iRacing simulator donated by NASCAR, which is seeking to increase e-sports on campuses and inspire students to consider careers as engineers, promoters, broadcasters, and graphic designers. 

Hampton University named alum and former member of the university’s football team, Mr. Anthony D. Henderson as the new director of athletics. Mr. Henderson hails from Yale University where he served as deputy director of athletics. 

Talladega College named Ms. Lashaunda Spurgeon as head coach for volleyball. She will coach both the men’s and the women’s teams. A highly ranked student athlete during her college years, Coach Spurgeon most recently served as head coach for woman’s volleyball at Dillard University.

Kentucky State University named Mr. Felton Huggins as head football coach. Coach Huggins is an experienced player and coach. He played professionally in the National Football League. He most recently served as the assistant coach of wide receivers at McNeese State University .

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Event: 2023 WPI HBCU & Small College Forum

Date: March 6-7, 2023

Location: Virtual

Information: Registration

Information: Flyer (PDF)

Event: NIL Compliance for Institutes of Higher Education

Date: March 14, 2023 

Location: Virtual

Information: Additional Details

Event: The University Professional and Continuing Education’s Annual Conference

Date: March 22-24, 2023 

Location: Washington DC

Information: Additional Details

Event: Higher Learning Commission 2023 Annual Conference

Date: March 24-28, 2023 

Location: Chicago, IL

Information: Additional Details

Event: African American Board Leadership Institute

Date: March 30-April 15, 2023 

Location: Virtual

Information: Additional Details

Event: Texas HBCU Conference

Date: March 31, 2023, - April 1, 2023

Location: Austin, TX

Information: Additional Details

Event: The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators

Date: April 1-5, 2023

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Information: Additional Details

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