Despite rising confirmed COVID-19 cases at colleges and universities across the country, historically Black colleges and universities are finding effective ways to manage the pandemic. According to a report from The Guardian, confirmed COVID-19 cases at HBCUs have remained relatively low. Meanwhile, prominent institutions like SUNY Oneonta and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have faced scrutiny after their campuses have reported upwards of 700 positive COVID-19 cases each. Nationwide, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases shot up to 3,200 daily once many college students returned to campus. Deviating from the norm, HBCU officials such as Brian Bridges of the United Negro College Fund credit their ability to handle the spread of COVID-19 to planning, student cooperation and an understanding of the pandemic has effected Black families.
“[HBCUs] enroll a population that has been ravaged disproportionately by COVID: an African American population that is predominantly low-income,” Bridges said.
Interestingly enough, HBCUs have been able to manage the spread of COVID-19 while brining many students back to campus. Historically Black institutions provide Wifi, study spaces and other living resources that some students can't find at home.
“For many of the students on their campuses, they’re the safest, most stable, most secure place that those students can be. Where they have reliable access to Wi-FI, where they have a regular and quiet place to study in their dorm room," Bridges said.
“Even if we did provide laptops and computers to those students, internet access in those communities is limited. That really drove part of our approach because we wanted to make sure our students progressed academically," Derrick Gilmore of Stilman College.
Taking extraordinary precautionary measures, HBCUs hope to return to a normal campus environment in the 2021-2022 academic year.
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