Historical Black Colleges and Universities  (HBCU'S)

Introduction:

Using movies like Drumline and The Great Debates to introduce students to the concept of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).  These institutions are those that were founded before 1964 as post secondary academic institutions whose educational mission has historically been to educate Black Americans.  There are about 120 often underfunded HBCUs, a variety of universities, composed of four-year colleges, community and junior colleges, and public and private institutions.  HBCUs are supported by African Americans undergraduates and graduates. Most HBCUs are located in the Southern United States such as Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Xavier University of Louisiana, Hamptom University, and Lemoyne-Owen College.

The Evaluation:

The Tasks:



Since you are a student looking at potential future academic paths, now is the time to decide what to do with your life in the future, while there is still time to turn around you academic performance. Will you go to college?  Where? These are a few tasks to see if you are ready for college.  Follow and complete each task using each HBCU’s official site.

​

1. Look into various HBCU web sites for state and city of college or university, the number of students enrolled, academic programs, social activities (parties, cookouts, student government, etc.), athletic programs (football, basketball, etc.) tuition costs, history, major accomplishments.
2. 
3. Think about what courses and grades you would need in high school to excell in various field and at various HBCU's.
4. 
5. Check out admissions requirement and what you need to do to meet them.
6. 
7. Research the history of your chosen HBCU.
8. Take a virtual campus tour an HBCU by looking at building pictures, looking at the campus map, etc.



The Process:



Think, Think, Think.  What are your plans now through middle and after high school and afterward?  While you're pondering over this, have you thought about attending an HBCU, (Historically Black College or University)?  HBCUs offer the same level of education as other postsecondary schools.  Most HBCUs are predominately small with a very low student-teacher ratio.  They offer numerous ways to obtain monies for college.  Visit the following links to get a better idea of what HBCUs have to offer.



1.    To begin this webquest, you must first start a journal and choose an HBCU to attend.  Find and log information about their admissions requirements.  Prepare a statement of their history and other great attractions and offerings you find interesting. The various Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Websites will offer plenty of information.

2.    Continue reading the HBCU sites to get additional information on the college.  Carefully read over the sites and write summaries of your information.

4.    Have you ever visited a college campus?  Well, how about taking a trip without leaving home?  Take a tour of different HBCUs today. View the pictures and campus maps of the HBCU’s to get this perspective.

5.    All aboard!!!  How was your trip?  To sum up your journal, briefly tell in one paragraph why? or why not?, you would you choose to go to an HBCU.  Tell about the great things you learned and encountered about the HBCU you chose.  You may include information from other HBCUs as well as add to your journal entry.  If you choose not to go to an HBCU, please tell what college you chose and why.

6.    Finally, compose a power point presentation using Microsoft Office or OpenOffice.  Using your journal as a guide, create a slide show illustrating step by step your HBCU experience.  Begin with the HBCU you chose and their admission requirements.  Give a brief history of the college and other exciting facts.  Give an overview of your HBCU daily news article.  Tell about your virtual trip to an HBCU.  In closing, explain your thoughts of Historical Black Colleges and Universities compared to other institutions.

Conclusion:

Congratulations!!! You have just taken your first look at a real college. Historical Black Colleges and Universities need you. Having researched and interacted with HBCU students, you can now think about what you have and proceed to work towards getting into and excelling at the HBCU for you.



Credits & References:



Thanks for allowing links to each of the HBCU college sites and the enclosed images.