Historically Black Colleges and Universities

History of HBCUs

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were established in the South and East Coast of the United States in the 19th century, to provide undergraduate and graduate level educational opportunities to people of African descent. Black students were unwelcome at existing public and private institutions of higher education, even after the passing of specific legislation resulting in a lack of higher education opportunities.

What is an HBCU?

There are over 100 HBCUs recognized by the US Department of Education. Most HBCUs award bachelor’s degree, graduate level/Masters/Professional degrees and doctoral degrees at competitive tuition rates. The majority of classes at HBCUs are smaller and are taught by professors in a nurturing and supportive environment.

HBCU Successes

Of those who graduated from an HBCU are:
  • 40% are members of Congress
  • 5% are CEOs
  • 40% are Engineers
  • 50% are Professors at Universities
  • 50% are lawyers
  • 80% of Judges

Eligibility Requirements

California Community College students with a GPA of 2.0 or higher is guaranteed admission to all partner HBCU institutions upon successful completion of one of the following requirements:

1. Complete an Associate degree for Transfer (ADT)
Or
2. Complete a minimum of 30 UC or CSU transferrable units.

Those students completing an Associates Degree (non-ADT) are welcome to apply to all HBCU partner institutions, however the benefits of guaranteed admission at junior status is not offered and all degree applicable units are subject to transcript evaluation. 

HBCU Transfer Updates

Cal-HBCU Transfer Grant: In partnership with the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), the Cal-HBCU Transfer Grant (Cal-HBCU) Program, awards up to $5,000 to participating students who transfer:

  1. from California Community Colleges
  2. to eligible, partnered Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

    To apply for the program, a completed application must be emailed to the Cal-HBCU Team at CalHBCU@csac.ca.gov.
  • The application deadline for the Fall 2024-25 Term is August 26, 2024.
  • The application deadline for the Spring 2024-25 Term is January 31, 2025.


HBCU Caravan/ Black College Fair:
Monday, November 4th, 2024 from 10am-2pm in the FCC cafeteria. Visit with over 40 universities in attendance. there will be workshops, scholarships awarded and on the spot admissions. RSVP Now

HBCU Scholarship: Opening in the Fall (Date is to be announced.) The scholarship will cover the recipient’s junior and senior year at an HBCU. Upon graduation, an internship opportunity will also be offered to the scholarship recipient. Requirements and the application can be found at, HBCU Scholarship  

Podcast: Black and African American Student Success 
Each episode will feature powerful student stories and highlight the invaluable resources that can make a difference for students considering college or participating in a dual enrollment program. At every turn in every podcast, listeners will be directed to the ICanGoToCollege.com website for additional information related to enrollment and retention, financial aid, student resources and more.  

Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Alabama State University
Sommer Spencer
District Recruiter
Email: sspencer@alasu.edu
Office Phone:334.782.8934

Stillman College
Valarie H. Wilson 
Director of Academic Partnerships    
Email: vwilson@stillman.edu
Office Phone: 205.366.8817 ext.8963

Talladega College
Lon C. Weind
Email: lweind@talladega.edu
Office Phone: 256.761.8879
Cell Phone: 626.536.7837

Tuskegee University
Brandon Williams 
Regional Counselor/Recruiter 
Email: bwilliams2@tuskegee.edu
Office Phone: 310.895.4953

Arkansas Baptist College
Justin Murray
Director of Admissions
Email: justin.murray@arkansasbaptist.edu
Office Phone: 501.420.1232 

Philander Smith College
Mr. Paul Person
Director for Admissions and Recruitment
Email: pperson@philander.edu
Office Phone: 501.370.5241

Bethune-Cookman University
Hannah Bridges 
Transcript Evaluator and NCAA Compliance Specialist
Email: bridgesh@cookman.edu
Office Phone: 386.481.2522

Edward Waters College
Mr. Kendrick Dunklin
Executive Director, Enrollment Management
Email: k.dunklin@ewc.edu

Florida Memorial University
Hilarie Exantus
Admissions Recruiter 
Email: Hilarie.exantus@fmuniv.edu
Office Phone: 305.626.3144

Clark Atlanta University
TaDarol Bates
Undergraduate Recruiter
Email: tbates1@cau.edu
Office Phone: 404.880.6342

Fort Valley State University
Alex Thomas
Executive Director of Recruitment & Admissions
Email: alex.thomas@fvsu.edu
Office Phone: 478.825.6227

Dillard University
Christina Clark 
Diversity Outreach Counselor
Email: knwilliams@dillard.edu
Office Phone: 504.816.4345

Grambling State University
Kenneth Ruffin
Assistant Director – Head Recruiter
Email: ruffink@gram.edu
Office Phone: 318.274.6108

Southern University at New Orleans
Byron Adams 
Recruiter
Email: Baadams@suno.edu
Office Phone: 301.789.6775

Southern University and A&M College
Jocha Gordon, M.A.Ed.
Assistant Director of Admissions
Email: jocha_gordon@subr.edu

Xavier University of Louisiana
Ciera Eugene
Senior Assistant Director
Office of Admissions
Email: ceugene2@xula.edu
Office Phone: 504.520.7576

Bowie State University
Jasmin Hurling Spears
Senior Transfer Admission Counselor
Email: jhurlingspears@bowiestate.edu
Office Phone: 301.860.3408

Mississippi Valley State University
Ms. Etosha M. Johnson, PhD
Director of Admissions & Recruitment
Email: etosha.johnson@mvsu.edu

Tougaloo College
Julian Pickett, MBA
Enrollment Officer
Email: jkpickett@tougaloo.edu
Phone: 601.977.7768

Harris Stowe University
Iris M. Tabb​, M.A.
Director of Admissions
Office of Admissions

Lincoln University of Missouri
Danisha Williams Ed.D
Director of Admissions
Email: williamsd3@lincolnu.edu

Bennett College
Jasmine Faison
Admissions Counselor/Recruiter
Email: jfaison@bennett.edu
Office Phone: 336.517.2167

North Carolina Central University
Denettia Shaw
Dir. Office of Transfer Services
Email: Dshaw9@nccu.edu
Office Phone: 919.530.6687

Shaw University
Ashley Conner
Assoc. Dir. Of Admissions & Recruitment
Email: Ashley.conner@shawu.edu
Office Phone: 919.546.8357 
Cell Phone: 919.822.4134 

Central State University
LaMar-Octavious L. Scott, M.A.
Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management 
Email: lscott@centralstate.edu
Office Phone: 937.376.6348

Benedict College
Mrs. Keisha Montgomery
Director of Admissions and Recruitment
Email: Keisha.Montgomery@benedict.edu
Office Phone: 803.705.4910

Claflin University
Reynolda Brown
VP Enrollment Management
Email: reybrown@claflin.edu
Office Phone: 803.535.5569

Fisk University
Sheila Smith, MBA
Associate Vice President
Advancement & Enrollment Mgmt
Email: shsmith@fisk.edu
Office Phone: 615.329.8710 or 615.300.5074

Lane College
Derrick Mays
Director of Admissions
Email: dmays@lanecollege.edu
Office Phone: 731.426-7563

Tennessee State University
Chelsea Morgan
Undergraduate Transfer Initiatives Counselor
Email: cmorga18@tnstate.edu
Office Phone: 615.963.5121

Huston-Tillotson University
Asia Haney
Interim Director of Admissions
Office of Admissions
Email: aehaney@htu.edu
Office Phone: 512.505.3023

Texas Southern University
Eddie Bebley 
Academic Advisor/Counselor  
Email: Eddie.bebley@tsu.edu 

Wiley College
De’Onqua Isaac
Executive Director of Enrollment Management 
Email: disaac2@wileyc.edu
Office Phone: 903.927.3222

Hampton University
Csebija Jenkins
West Coast Regional Admissions Counselor
Email: csebija.jenkins@hamptonu.edu
Office Phone: 213.507.4747

Virginia State University
Tasche’ Jackson 
Transfer Admissions Counselor
Email: tjackson@vsu.edu
Office Phone: 804.524.5690  

West Virginia State University
Tanesha R. Weaver 
Interim Director of Admissions 
Email: Tanesha.Weaver@wvstateu.edu
Office Phone: 304.204.4341

Staff Contacts

Clarke-Lauren Richard, Black Student Sucess & Academic Counselor
clarke-lauren.richard@cloviscollege.edu