Claflin University Applauds Release of First UNCF HBCU Congressional Honor Roll
Mar 05, 2019
New UNCF Congressional Honor Roll Recognizes Members of Congress for their Support of HBCUs
ORANGEBURG, SC (March 5, 2019)—Today, UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) released the first HBCU Congressional Honor Roll, recognizing 59 members of Congress for their efforts on behalf of HBCUs and their students. The honor roll will be released annually and highlight members of Congress who have served as true champions and strong advocates for HBCUs and their students beyond their voting records.
Congressional support of HBCUs is vital to the continued success and sustainability of these institutions. Recognizing this, as well as the social and economic impact of HBCUs on this country and this state, each of the members recognized has taken strong steps to support these institutions by doing things such as joining the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus or sponsoring legislation beneficial to HBCUs and the students they serve.
“HBCUs like Claflin University are engines of immense social and economic impact in their communities,” said Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, president of Claflin University. “But we cannot carry out this work without federal support. The new UNCF honor roll list enables institutional leaders, faculty and students to gauge the support of their elected officials and give them another tool with which to advocate. We look forward to our senators and representatives joining with us and UNCF to support the HBCU agenda and advance our priorities.”
“This new HBCU honor roll empowers the work our institutions began more than 150 years ago and hopefully helps us build on the gains we made during the last Congress,” said UNCF’s President and CEO Dr. Michael Lomax. “These gains included more than $100 million in additional support for HBCUs. However, our institutions still need significant investment in their infrastructure and innovation goals. In addition to releasing this honor roll, today I delivered the first ever ‘State of the HBCU Address.’ I called on all lawmakers to renew and increase their commitment to HBCUs, the students and the communities they serve by providing additional funding for the Title III Strengthening Institutions Program and setting aside $1 billion for HBCU capital improvement.”
To view the full list or to watch the entire “State of the HBCU Address,” visit UNCF.org /sothbcuaddress.
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About Claflin University
Founded in 1869, Claflin University is recognized by national publications such as U.S. News and World Report, Forbes.com and Washington Monthly as one of America’s best liberal arts colleges. The University proudly serves the state of South Carolina, the nation and the world. Its beautiful historic campus is home for approximately 2,200 students from every region of the United States and more than 20 international countries. Claflin students demonstrate extraordinary achievement, distinctive confidence and a lifelong desire to transform society through visionary leadership. Its academic programs prepare students to compete and succeed in a global and technological society.
About UNCF
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”®Learn more at UNCF.org, or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.