Stereotyping HBCU's

Phrozen1ne · #1 06-20-2007, 11:10 PM

Well I believe the stereotyping also comes into play when there becomes a pattern of HBCU's not being on their job ( financial aid packets, housing, etc.) I say this do to my experience and those of friends and family members. I started off at a PWI because my mother wasn't trying to send to an HBCU although HBCU's were my first choice. She stated that the world isn't made of just African Americans and that I needed to go to a school that had a diverse student body and that provide "better opportunities

". So I started off at a PWI and eventually got my mom let transfer to a HBCU.

I applied to FAMU and got accepted ( after repeating checking with school when huge amounts of time had passed), got my room assignment, plane ticket to Tallahassee..... A week before I was set to leave something told me to just double check everything and when I called the Financial Aid office I found out that my financial aid have been jacked up and they weren't cooperative with trying to assist me. The funny thing is I have frat that this has happen to also and he had to transfer schools. I ended up back at a PWI (Southern Illinois University in Carbondale after my mom went off on FAMU Chicago style "westside") and obtained my degree there. After that ordeal, during my second semester at SIUC I received a call from FAMU saying they had straighten out my finanical aid and it was a mistake on their part. They stated that if I still wanted to attend the their university I would be able to and I am thinking

.

My point is that I have been on both sides of the fence and I would entertain the opportunity to do my grad program at an HBCU, but as stated in previous post all HBCU's aren't the best, just as all PWI's aren't either. I just dislike seeing HBCU's not on top of their game in every way possible. These schools should mean alot to our community, but they sometimes get tarnished by negative things or people involved at the institution (Morris Brown). As a result parents don't want to send their child and hard earned money to an institution that isn't going to provide the basics.

Now before anyone says these things happen at PWI's too; that may be true, but I can say from my experience it doesn't occur as often. When it does occur it is usually taken care of in a timely manner. Investing in HBCU's is a great start, but there is a need for checks and balances with regard to the people who run the institutions. With all that being said, I still want to pursue grad studies at a HBCU. Not going to let one bad experience change my view!!

ladygreek · #2 06-21-2007, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phrozen1ne

I ended up back at a PWI (Southern Illinois University in Carbondale after my mom went off on FAMU Chicago style "westside") and obtained my degree there.

Go Salukis! I am a charter member of the Delta chapter there. Interesting fact. When I attended SIUC, there were over 3,000 Black students there. We functioned like a mini-HBCU within a major PWI. They were kind of scared of us. LOL

Phrozen1ne · #3 06-21-2007, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Go Salukis! I am a charter member of the Delta chapter there. Interesting fact. When I attended SIUC, there were over 3,000 Black students there. We functioned like a mini-HBCU within a major PWI. They were kind of scared of us. LOL

What's going on fellow Saluki and hats off to you as a charter member!

Those are women about business down there. We collaborated together for National Aids Awareness week to bring your Soror Rae Lewis Thornton (phenomenal) down to speak, when I was vice pres of the Black Student Union or what is now the Black Affairs Council. You know I had no idea what a saluki was when I first got there. Your right we still think of ourselves as a little HBCU within a PWI and we still have weight on the campus. Enough that we can bring quality programs for AA students to Carbondale. They still scared of us

, but what we are doing now can't compare to what your generation did when you were there, I seen the pictures, you guys on BUSINESS big time.

Ladygreek are you coming down for black alumni weekend in July??

Phrozen1ne · #4 06-21-2007, 09:56 AM

Does anyone know if Morris Brown College is still functioning? I heard they are, but just that enrollment is low. I wonder how long it will take for the school to be restored to its former glory?

DSTCHAOS · #5 06-21-2007, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phrozen1ne

Does anyone know if Morris Brown College is still functioning? I heard they are, but just that enrollment is low. I wonder how long it will take for the school to be restored to its former glory?

What was its former glory?

12dn94dst · #6 06-21-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phrozen1ne

Does anyone know if Morris Brown College is still functioning? I heard they are, but just that enrollment is low. I wonder how long it will take for the school to be restored to its former glory?

MBC is still in operation with around 50 students. From what I understand they began the accreditation process in October 2006. (according to this).

DSTCHAOS · #7 06-21-2007, 11:12 AM

Bless their hearts. They are starting from scratch.

You have to either have a lot of faith in MBC's potential or be a .01 GPA student who can't get in elsewhere. My child wouldn't be allowed to waste a degree like that.

Eclipse · #8 06-21-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phrozen1ne

Does anyone know if Morris Brown College is still functioning? I heard they are, but just that enrollment is low. I wonder how long it will take for the school to be restored to its former glory?

Morris Brown is stil functioning, but as you said enrollment is low. They will need to be accrediated again and I don't think they are close to that. It will be a serious up hill battle and with out a steady influx of money, I personally don't see it happening. Shame too. MBC is the only school in the AUC founded by Black people.

ladygreek · #9 06-21-2007, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phrozen1ne

Ladygreek are you coming down for black alumni weekend in July??

Black Alumni Reunion always seems to conflict with the Delta midwest regional conference. I have yet to attend one, although it is planned by my soror.

AKA_Monet · #10 06-21-2007, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phrozen1ne

My point is that I have been on both sides of the fence and I would entertain the opportunity to do my grad program at an HBCU, but as stated in previous post all HBCU's aren't the best, just as all PWI's aren't either. I just dislike seeing HBCU's not on top of their game in every way possible. These schools should mean alot to our community, but they sometimes get tarnished by negative things or people involved at the institution (Morris Brown). As a result parents don't want to send their child and hard earned money to an institution that isn't going to provide the basics.

I agree with your statements. I will not excuse Spelman admin for what it did to me personally, but there is a time to let it go and forgive. Reality, most people that work there, have ONLY lived in that area for their entire life and that is the only world they really understand. At PWI's, most of their admin workforce comes from all over the world, literally. So the top down business design is totally different than HBCU's. Because, a HBCU is not getting a whole bunch of well-too-do students, with well-to-do parents--maybe the occassional celebrity or their children... Really, what celebrity has sent their child to Jarvis Christian, Florida Memorial, or Clafin? Really?

Whereas, most PWI's have STRONG student, parental and alumni support... STRONG just for the football games alone--totally SEC vs. ACC in 2007-2008. The Bayou Classic barely broke even--from what I "heard"

Quote:

Now before anyone says these things happen at PWI's too; that may be true, but I can say from my experience it doesn't occur as often. When it does occur it is usually taken care of in a timely manner. Investing in HBCU's is a great start, but there is a need for checks and balances with regard to the people who run the institutions. With all that being said, I still want to pursue grad studies at a HBCU. Not going to let one bad experience change my view!!

I only have several friends that suffered the financial aid drama, but most folks who "master" the art of "finagling 101" at these schools, feel empowered by it. Finagling101 is not fun while one suffers, but this is how HBCU's--literally formed after Emancipation think is the BEST education for BLACK PEOPLE.

I did learn what kind of education I could garner from Spelman even though there was a complete lack of resources.