Via RaceWire, Obama has signed an executive order to bolster federal support for historically black colleges and universities:
Obama says these schools have felt the pain of the recession (and his own cuts last year) the most because they enroll a higher proportion of low and middle-income students. His order includes $850 million which will ensure students can afford a college education and HBCUs can improve and expand facilities.
That's especially important because the recession has hit these colleges especially hard, says The New York Times. Not only do they have a higher proportion of disadvantaged students than primarily white institutions, but they start off with smaller endowments. Helping low-income students go to, and stay in, college is a good goal. And making sure HBCUs get a fair share of federal help is an even worthier one.
-- Monica Potts
