NAFEO Signature Programs

NAFEO POLICY & ADVOCACY

The cornerstone of NAFEO’s work is its advocacy on behalf of the overarching issues and interests of paramount concern to the diverse HBCUs and PBIs, and their stakeholders. NAFEO leads in advocating on behalf of its members in executive, administrative, legislative, and judicial branches of government, by educating and strategically placing before these branches of government the media, national and global outlets, HBCU and PBI students, executives, administrators, faculty, staff and alumni, “the voices for HBCUs and HBIs.”

Annually, NAFEO leads its members in assisting in shaping and championing an HBCU Community Congressional Budget, in working with Members of Congress from both major parties, in both Houses of Congress in reauthorizing legislation of greatest importance to HBCUs, PBIs and their stakeholder communities, and in securing more, and more strategic investments in these institutions and their stakeholders, in 14 congressional appropriations. NAFEO also works with the state legislatures and State Higher Education Executives (SHEEOs) in every state in which there is an HBCU or PBI. 

NAFEO played a central role in Advancing the issues and interests of its members in all of the coronavirus special appropriations and in ensuring optimal investments in its members in both the Build Back Better Framework and the infrastructure bill of 2021. NAFEO lead in positioning the  HBCUs and PBIs  as the quintessential equal educational opportunity institutions they are and highlighting that HBCUs are non MSIs because they have not race or ethnicity criterion for student admissions, retention, or advancement, for employment or contracting. HBCUs should be the first consideration for any student, faculty, staff member, or contractor who believes in the centrality of diversity to American progress.  NAFEO and the NBCSL Law and Justice Committee led the fight for 30 years that resulted in 2023, in USDA and Ed  urging select governors of states with  1890 land-grant institutions to invest some of the dollars that were wrongfully withheld from HBCUs through the ages. NAFEO knows the ask is just a downpayment on that which is actually owed, but an important downpayment that should be aggressively sought by allies of HBCUs as a “non-accord and satisfaction” fraction of what is owed.  We will keep prodding the states and the federal government to invest more in all HBCUs commensurate with their return on investments and that which they have forewent through the years. NAFEO has also taken the lead on behalf of  non-partisan Voting Rights Act battles before state legislative and administrative bodies and in courts. The tremendous strategic alliances we have forged and maintained throughout our nearly 55 years, and the new ones we have established in recent years, have opened the eyes, ears, minds, and hearts of a broader and more diverse group of stakeholders, to the tremendous return on investments in HBCUs and PBIs. 

The most compelling reason for investments in NAFEO member institutions is their return on investments: HBCUs have a $15 billion short-term economic impact. HBCUs are just 4% of American colleges and universities, yet they graduate 50% of African American public school education professionals; in excess of 40% of African Americans who earn advanced degrees in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); 60% of African American health professionals; 52% of African Americans in agriculture and sustainability disciplines, and 44% of African Americans with Communications Technology degrees. 

NAFEO PRESIDENTIAL PEER SEMINAR

The Presidential Peer Seminar is designed to provide the HBCU and PBI presidents with information, inspiration, new skills and relationships to enhance their ability to serve at the helm of their institutions, meet the many demands of governance, and better serve their stakeholders. It also facilitates formal and informal meetings among and between government, corporate, NGO, and philanthropic CEOs and CEOs of HBCUs and PBIs in a relaxed setting. The Peer Seminar affords presidents and chancellors an opportunity to build fraternity and to spend facilitated formal and informal time with their colleagues, their mates and with select people they invite to join them because of the vital role they play in an arena central to the mission of HBCUs and PBIs HBCUS, PBIs, or because of a new publication, presentation or innovation they have of interest to members. 

A special part of the Presidential Peer Seminar is the Freshmen Presidents’ Boot Camp. The Boot Camp is designed to assist freshmen  HBCU and PBI presidents to get their grounding, understand controlling laws, policies and resources, and to forge relationships important to their presidency. In the past few years, we have had an average of  twenty (20) new HBCU and PBI presidents and chancellors participate in the Presidential Peer Seminar, with about 65 more senior presidents and chancellors.

NAFEO Freshmen Presidents and Chancellors Boot Camp & All Presidents Training Institute (Attendant to Presidential Peer Seminar)

HBCU Freshmen Presidents’ Boot Camp and Training Institute is part of the NAFEO Presidential Peer Seminar. As the membership and advocacy association for all HBCUs and PBIs, NAFEO provides a range of support services for these presidents. Among the membership services are:

The Freshmen Presidents Boot Camp for new HBCU presidents takes place during the NAFEO Presidential Peer Seminar (PPS) with senior presidents conducting workshops, formal and informal discussion groups for freshmen presidents for one full day during its three-day PPS, then subsequently serving in “on call” mentor-protégé relationships in which the mentors  guide the freshman through the challenges and opportunities emanating from  serving at the helm of one of America’s HBCUs or PBIs. The Freshmen Presidents’ Training Institute Once Freshmen presidents/chancellors complete the “Boot Camp” and the freshmen presidents are assigned a mentor, the presidents who have served at least one full year at the helm of and HBCU or PBI provide training in practical, hands-on matters that they typically encounter, such as budgeting, financial management, accreditation, governance, fundraising, student services, understanding and complying with federal and state laws and regulations, governing HBCUs, and alumni, governmental, foundation and corporate relations.  It also offers skills development in building support networks, civic engagement, marketing, social media management, and community outreach.  

NAFEO National Dialogue on Blacks in Higher Education; HBCUs on the Hill, & Salute to Congressional Champions  

NAFEO’s National Dialogue on Blacks in Higher Education has been the Nation’s premiere national confab on higher education equity and access: a virtual “who’s who” of  American education, political, social and thought leaders on higher education; the presidents and chancellors of the nation’s 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and in excess of 25 of the 80 presidents of Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), federal and state policymakers and executives.  The NAFEO National Dialogue  has brought together administrators, faculty, students, alumni, board members, admissions and academic affairs professionals, procurement officers, human resources directors, student service professionals and others from across the nation. NAFEO’s convenings have attracted business, philanthropic, government, advocacy, civic, faith, constitutional, civil rights, and social justice champions, and student leaders, to exchange information about  America’s HBCUs and PBIs and blacks in higher education. 

At the Dialogue, the delegates reach consensus on a multi-year National Agenda on Blacks in Higher Education on which their delegates work for months in advance of the convening.  The National Dialogue includes HBCUs on the Hill Day  which includes congressional visits, congressional hearings or roundtables on the State of  America’s Black Colleges, and a Salute to Congressional Champions.  The National Dialogue also hosts town hall meetings, learning laboratories, institutes, and roundtable discussions.

HBCU TECH FOUNDATION

Founded in 2018, as an independent, 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit association, The HBCU Technology Foundation was established to spur Historically Black College and University (HBCU) technological innovation and monetization, primarily through sustainable partnerships between HBCUs, corporations, non-governmental associations, foundations, federal, state, county and municipal agencies. The HBCU Technology Foundation will enable Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to generate new, independent revenue streams through the acquisition, licensing, and protection of intellectual property assets issued from industry leading technology companies.  The HBCU Technology Foundation will also assist research-intensive HBCUs develop disruptive technologies and expand their intellectual property portfolios by leveraging the HBCU Technology Foundation’s growing suite of powerful and convenient technology transfer services.  

The HBCU Technology Foundation’s intellectual property portfolios will also provide exciting opportunities for HBCUs to provide clinical learning environments for law students, business students, and STEM students to receive hands-on experience in developing and commercializing valuable intellectual property assets.

NAFEO Campus Plus Community  (CPC/ COMMUNIVERSITY Development

The Campus Plus Community development program is a transformative redevelopment approach for HBCU campuses and the communities surrounding their campuses. CPC offers a structured development program that will allow HBCUs to build state-of-the-art on and off campus facilities. 

Development activities range from on campus projects directly related to improving the academic environment, to off-campus projects focused on improving economic vitality of the adjacent community environment. Whether on-campus or off-campus, the projects will enhance the HBCU’s ability to attract new students and increase enrollment.  The on-campus projects may include innovation research centers, student housing facilities, classroom buildings, administrative office buildings,  libraries, student centers, athletic facilities; parking facilities ; and other types of on-campus mixed-use facilities   

Off-campus projects will be located within a one-mile radius of the campus or on the perimeter of the campus where direct access is provided to the general public, and those projects may include: mixed-use residential or commercial projects, hospitality projects (e.g., hotels) healthcare projects (e.g., hospitals), retail projects; and office buildings.  

The biggest plus of Communiversity is that the development is done through the membership association of the HBCUs and PBIs, an independent association.

Student & Faculty Leadership Development Internships & Apprenticeships

The NAFEO internship, ambassadorship, and apprenticeship opportunities offer students an opportunity for practical, hands-on experience and career-building service with federal agencies, corporations, small-female, minority-owned businesses, publishing houses, tech companies, and so many other growth and high need industries, and “graying industries.” These career service training grounds, offer  the students an opportunity to learn about the inner workings of federal and state government, corporations and NGOs, while augmenting the knowledge they acquire in the classroom with real life experiences and enriching the targeted workforces.  The opportunities provide the employers/placement centers an opportunity to learn, firsthand, about the excellence, intellectual curiosity, passion, and professionalism of HBCU and PBI students who are excelling in many disciplines, disproportionately in high needs and growth disciplines.