Issues with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in Maryland continue on as the Maryland HBCU faculty caucus put forth a protest at the state’s capitol last week.
The group is demanding equality for HBCUs in the state as they claim that PWIs (Predominately White Institutions) receive better treatment from the state’s lawmakers.
From academic programs to funding, the caucus believes that the state is mistreating its HBCUs and demands better.
The divide runs so deep that a group of former students who attended the state’s four HBCUs filed a lawsuit that claimed that the state gave cover for Maryland PWI’s to commit academic segregation.
In essence, the state allowed for duplicate program offerings at Maryland PWIs when the state’s HBCUs already offered the same coursework.
A judge sided with the former students in their claim that segregation had indeed taken place.
Although the legal wrangling continues as neither side has been able to compromise on a solution that will satisfy either party, the protest leads its way back to the merits of the lawsuit: HBCUs receive improper treatment from the state.
In an effort to gain equal footing with Maryland’s PWIs, the caucus wants to eradicate all duplicate programs that are already offered at HBCUs within the state. Secondly, the group wants programs that are in high demand to be offered at Maryland’s HBCUs.
This will partially satisfy its needs, but there is still work to be done.
No resolution has been found and there is no word on if the group’s suggestions, or demands, will be acted upon.
If anything, this shows just how fragile the relationship may be between state lawmakers and leaders at HBCUs. Some struggle financially, and because of that, those issues may show up in how the schools perform academically.
Hopefully both sides may soon find a solution to an almost decade old legal issue.
