Florida’s historically black colleges are facing crippling cuts in funding under budget proposals passed by the House and Senate earlier this month.
Under those budgets, historically black private colleges could see their state funding slashed between $2.2 million under the House proposal and $3 million under the Senate proposal due to the disappearance of federal stimulus dollars. That amounts to a reduction between 23 and 32 percent from the year before.
There are three private historically black colleges in Florida: Bethune-Cookman University, Edward Waters College and Florida Memorial University.
For the colleges, which rely on state funds for efforts to increase enrollment, and improve graduation and retention rates, a $3 million cut in funding would have a big impact, lawmakers say.
“These are institutions that have been underfunded historically and a cut of that size would mean for many of them that they would have to close their doors,” said Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando.
Bethune-Cookman University, for instance, could see a drop of $1.1 million in funding, under the proposed Senate budget. The university’s overall budget is $68 million, according to a Bethune-Cookman spokeswoman.
The school has 3,600 students, which makes it the largest of the state’s private historically black colleges.
“Bethune-Cookman remains attentive as the state budget process unfolds,” Bethune-Cookman President Trudie Kibbe Reed said in an e-mail. “Without grant funding for recruitment and retention, we face a difficult journey ahead.”
If the double-digit budget cuts are approved, Bethune-Cookman would have to rely on fundraising during a time when many alumni and corporate funds are struggling because of the recession, Reed said. “The burden then falls on the institution, the students and their families to support their financial needs,” Reed said.
Historically black colleges have received state funds since 1985. They are the only private colleges to receive money from the state that is not earmarked for a specific program. The money is intended to boost graduation and retention rates.
Many black lawmakers support the state subsidies because they argue these colleges fulfill a need that other colleges and universities don’t – educating many minority, poor and first-generation college students.
Thompson said historically black colleges have a “greater need” than other private universities for funding.
“A lot of them are at risk and in single-family homes,” said Sen. Gary Siplin. He also stressed the need to continue funding financial aid programs for private school students, such as the Florida Resident Access Grant.
“It’s drastic,” said Siplin, D-Orlando, of the proposed cuts. “I think it’s unfair and I’ve advanced that opinion to Speaker Cannon as well as the President.”
Siplin called those discussions “cordial and encouraging.” A spokeswoman for House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, confirmed he did meet with some of the college presidents and members of the black caucus.
Spokeswoman Katie Betta said the schools had been facing an even more drastic cut of 47 percent. Ultimately, the budget that passed out of the House Higher Education Appropriations Committee scaled it back to 23 percent.
But with budget talks stalled between the House and Senate as larger budget issues remain unresolved, it is unclear where negotiations stand on the relatively small, but politically important, sum given to historically black colleges.
As deep as the cuts are, they’re nowhere near as deep as those contained in Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed budget. His budget, released in February, completely eliminated funding for historically black colleges, except for $1.8 million for Edward Waters College. That college was spared because of efforts by Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll to keep funding for her hometown school in Scott’s budget.
This isn’t the first time lawmakers have threatened cuts to historically black colleges.
Last year, funding for historically black colleges was trimmed by 4 percent compared to the prior year, a cut that would have been more severe if not for federal stimulus dollars.
By Lilly Rockwell
