President Dillard Makes Case for Increased HBCU Support

Shaw University President Paulette R. Dillard, Ph.D., (left) pushed for increased funding for historically Black colleges and university’s during HBCU Advocacy Day at the N.C. General Assembly May 1. She is pictured with N.C. Rep. Sarah Crawford.

RALEIGH — Legislative backing is critical if Shaw University is going to maintain its history of progress, according to Paulette R. Dillard, Ph.D., the school’s president and CEO.

“In order for us to continue that legacy, we need your support,” Dillard told legislators Wednesday during HBCU Advocacy Day at the N.C. General Assembly.

Dillard was among the presidents, chancellors or their designees from the state’s 10 historically Black colleges and universities making the case for increased funding that is at the core of legislation sponsored during the General Assembly’s short session by Rep. Zack Hawkins, a Durham Democrat and N.C. Central University alum who champions all of the state’s HBCUs.

“HBCUs have not always had the opportunity to come to the legislature and advocate for themselves directly, so that’s why we will do this every single year,” Hawkins said.

After addressing a group of legislators, Dillard made individual visits to push for:

continued support of North Carolina’s need-based scholarship program
funding related to jobs in the medical field, where many HBCU graduates work as physician’s assistants or nurses, for example
allowing independent schools — including HBCUs — to have a share of the funds generated by the NC Education Lottery

“We once had access to those funds,” Dillard said. “But during the recession of 2011, that access was restricted for our institutions.”

Shaw University President Paulette R. Dillard, Ph.D., (center) was at the N.C. General Assembly for HBCU Advocacy Day May 1. She is pictured with N.C. Sen. Dan Blue and A. Hope Williams, Ph.D., the president of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.

Nearly 80 percent of Shaw University students are eligible for Pell Grants, which are need-based federal dollars for those pursuing higher education. More support for North Carolina’s need-based scholarship program would make college more affordable for the state’s residents, Dillard said.

Dillard noted Shaw University’s distinction as the first HBCU in the South and used that to illustrate another need.

“We also have the oldest infrastructure in the state,” Dillard said. “We are woefully lacking in infrastructure improvements that are critical for the experience of our students.”

Funding infrastructure needs at the state’s HBCUs is part of Hawkins’ omnibus bill, which has early bipartisan support.

North Carolina has more four-year HBCUs than any state in the nation.

“I believe that’s intentional,” Dillard said. It shows the importance placed on the education of Black people many, many decades ago, she explained.

“We need the same support today that we had in the early years of the founding of our institutions,” Dillard said.

A. Hope Williams, Ph.D., the president of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, said the 36 higher ed institutions in the collective award one in four bachelor’s degrees in the state and one out of three graduate and professional degrees.

“Our HBCUs provide so many students to help meet that number,” Williams said. “We have a $14.2 billion economic impact as a sector, and our HBCUs are a critical part of helping make that happen.”

“No entity, no single being of colleges do what they do. Nobody,” Rep. Abe Jones said. “It’s a mission that must always be supported. Always.”