This article describes Fisk University's drive to improve its graduation and retention rates. Fisk's six-year graduation rate is more than 10 percentage points above the national average for four-year institutions. Seventy percent of Fisk alumni go on to graduate or to professional schools. No other institution produces as many black doctorates in…

Examines the growth of Hampton University (Virginia) during the 22 years that William R. Harvey has been president of this historically black institution. Cites views of Harvey as a visionary leader, tough taskmaster, and astute financial manager. Notes the growth of the institution's endowment, rising academic standards, and also some political…

Reports that, for black Americans, the "classic" football events between historically black colleges have become larger affairs featuring college fairs, Greek reunions, and networking in addition to the game. These events can be significant moneymakers for these athletics programs and often also include family activities, fashion…

Describes how the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund wants to attract more support for students at public black colleges, who are excluded from the successful United Negro College Fund. (EV)

Describes a plan to end Mississippi's 26-year-old college desegregation case, which is hailed by government officials but criticized by others, who say it fails to improve access to college for black students. (EV)

Discusses how as states push historically black public colleges to do more to recruit white students, colleges seek effective strategies and some educators see a double standard. (EV)

The Kresge Foundation has undertaken an $18-million project to assist four-year, historically black colleges build successful fund-raising operations. The grants pay for consultants to analyze advancement offices and map improvements for them. The program will also match black-college advancement officers with mentors who are successful fund…

Explores how, strapped for resources, predominantly African-American institutions offer few online resources; some also continue the tradition of concerning themselves more with the quality of face-to-face instruction. (EV)

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and Pew Charitable Trusts have halved the number of black colleges eligible to apply for grants, which some claim creates two classes of institution, the financially strong and the financially weak. Black colleges find the targeting policy insensitive. (MSE)

Discusses Michael Ardis, a professor who says historically black Morris College fired him because he "didn't stay in his place." (EV)

Some development officers at historically black colleges are seeking strategies to cultivate white alumni for fund raising, as volunteers, and for recruiting students. The challenges are similar to those faced by predominantly white colleges in reaching black alumni. Some see racial bias as a barrier. (MSE)

Describes how Bennett College, an historically black women's institution, is trying to regroup after its latest president lasted only seven months. (EV)

The United Negro College Fund faces questions about the quality of its institutions and questions from some of its own presidents about how well it represents their interests. The Fund now helps its members improve their management, get more federal aid, build their endowments, recruit students, and gain reaccreditation. (MLW)

The Supreme Court's 1992 decision on desegregation in state higher education systems is criticized for lacking force and creating confusion. The ruling encourages states to support historically black colleges by adding academic programs. Some feel the ruling will not help most black students, who are enrolled in predominantly white institutions.…

The Justice Department restated and clarified its position in a landmark higher education desegregation case to be heard in the Supreme Court, providing a substantial boost to Black-college supporters. The new brief explicitly affirms federal government support for historically Black colleges, calling them a vital component of U.S. higher…