@DrMikeRobinson Over the next several weeks, I will explore the historic lawsuit settlement between Maryland and the four Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) located in the state. I will conduct a series of interviews with key stakeholders in nearly a two-decade battle to address systemic underfunding of Bowie State University, Morgan State University, Coppin State University, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore by the state government.
Below is my interview with one of the Plaintiffs of the original lawsuit filed in 2006. Plaintiff has requested not to share their identity during our Q&A.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Why do you think the lawsuit was needed?
Plaintiff: The state did not fully comply with an agreement to fund HBCUs fully and NOT to duplicate HBCU programs at TWIs
Dr. Mike Robinson: How do you think the historic underfunding impacted the institutions?
Plaintiff: Historic underfunding resulted in a lower tier of quality across the board: Faculty, Physical Plant, Scholarly output, Prestige, Ability to attract high caliber talent, Reputation, and a host of other intangibles.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Why did you elect to attend an HBCU?
Plaintiff: Morgan had a program that resonated with my personal and professional interests. An HBCU experience can be good for you on a spiritual level.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Was the decision to seek past funding driven by the four HBCUs or their alumni? And why did the Alumni of the four HBCUs believe this was the right time, even though it took nearly two decades to prevail?
Plaintiff: I am not sure about the motive behind the lawsuit's timing. I believe people at Howard University Law School led it.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Do you think a similar approach could work in other states where HBCUs have historically been underfunded? And what would you like to see done with the increase in funding at the four HBCUs in Maryland?
Plaintiff: Yes, especially with the legal precedent already set by Maryland. Move beyond just playing financial catch-up and deepen their "value." MSU has poured lots of $ into the physical plant (which is important). They are also crowing about inching in on becoming a Research 1 level institution (which is also important). But my concern is that in trying to quickly make up for lost time, it would be a travesty to overlook the other less obvious "costs" associated with historic underfunding (quality of faculty and staff, student product, size of endowment, and other intangibles). I like what Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III was able to achieve at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). I know that UMBC is not an HBCU but this was an instance of a Black president of a university
Below is my interview with one of the Plaintiffs of the original lawsuit filed in 2006. Plaintiff has requested not to share their identity during our Q&A.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Why do you think the lawsuit was needed?
Plaintiff: The state did not fully comply with an agreement to fund HBCUs fully and NOT to duplicate HBCU programs at TWIs
Dr. Mike Robinson: How do you think the historic underfunding impacted the institutions?
Plaintiff: Historic underfunding resulted in a lower tier of quality across the board: Faculty, Physical Plant, Scholarly output, Prestige, Ability to attract high caliber talent, Reputation, and a host of other intangibles.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Why did you elect to attend an HBCU?
Plaintiff: Morgan had a program that resonated with my personal and professional interests. An HBCU experience can be good for you on a spiritual level.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Was the decision to seek past funding driven by the four HBCUs or their alumni? And why did the Alumni of the four HBCUs believe this was the right time, even though it took nearly two decades to prevail?
Plaintiff: I am not sure about the motive behind the lawsuit's timing. I believe people at Howard University Law School led it.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Do you think a similar approach could work in other states where HBCUs have historically been underfunded? And what would you like to see done with the increase in funding at the four HBCUs in Maryland?
Plaintiff: Yes, especially with the legal precedent already set by Maryland. Move beyond just playing financial catch-up and deepen their "value." MSU has poured lots of $ into the physical plant (which is important). They are also crowing about inching in on becoming a Research 1 level institution (which is also important). But my concern is that in trying to quickly make up for lost time, it would be a travesty to overlook the other less obvious "costs" associated with historic underfunding (quality of faculty and staff, student product, size of endowment, and other intangibles). I like what Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III was able to achieve at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). I know that UMBC is not an HBCU but this was an instance of a Black president of a university