HBCU

Tennessee's State Building Commission helped Tennessee State University avoid bankruptcy last month by redirecting federal grant money from a building project to general operating expenses. Now, in return, the state is asking for budget cuts.

FRANKFORT — A year into his presidency, Koffi Akakpo is optimistic that Kentucky State University will enroll significantly more students this fall.

Senate Republican leader: historically Black university is ‘lucky’ to get any money

Tennessee’s Senate passed a bill Thursday that would put the state’s higher education commission in charge of Tennessee State University if its board of trustees sunsets this summer. Sen. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, who sponsored the bill, said he hopes it is never used.

As soon as this week, Tennessee’s Senate could vote to vacate Tennessee State University’s governing body. The school’s board of trustees is set to expire this summer. But instead of letting it lapse, this bill would remove all current trustees, allow the governor to replace most of them and extend the body’s authority for two years.

A proposal at the state legislature would terminate Tennessee State University’s Board of Trustees. And another bill would subsequently transfer authority over the school to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, or THEC.

North Carolina A&T State University has seen an almost six-fold increase in donations — and the fiscal year isn't even over yet. Other HBCUs are also reporting a fundraising boom.