Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Education sent all colleges and universities across the nation a notice, reminding them that they need to comply with the newly updated cybersecurity regulations published by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The regulations 鈥 which include specifications such as implementing critical controls for information security programs, maintaining oversight of service providers, and designating an individual to oversee a school鈥檚 cybersecurity infrastructure 鈥 came in response to .
While these regulations are certainly warranted in an age where personal data is becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber-criminals, the penalties for failing to comply with the regulations 鈥 especially the withholding of federal needs-based funding under Title IV 鈥 pose an existential threat to schools operating under tight budgets.
Take historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which have throughout their existence struggled to find the substantial funding that many state and private predominantly white institutions (PWIs) of higher education enjoy and who are already steeling themselves to deal with following the Supreme Court鈥檚 regressive decision to effectively end Affirmative Action admission programs.
The loss of Title IV funding would drastically affect about 80% of the student bodies at HBCUs and would have a consequential negative impact on the future of these vital institutions of higher education.
Endowments at HBCUs pale in comparison to those at the U.S.’s top-ranked colleges and universities, with the overall endowments at all the country鈥檚 HBCUs accounting for .
The gap in funding between PWIs and HBCUs isn鈥檛 just because of smaller endowments, it鈥檚 also because state lawmakers keep funds off HBCU campuses 鈥 in North Carolina, for example, while N.C. A&T 鈥 the nation鈥檚 largest HBCU 鈥 was given only $9.5 million.
When it comes to access to technology, HBCUs also face an uphill battle with
Despite their struggles with funding, and the fact that these schools constitute in the country, HBCU graduates account for 80% of all Black judges, 50% of Black lawyers, 50% of Black doctors, 40% of Black members of Congress, and .
HBCUs truly know how to do more with less, but they cannot be saddled with costly regulations that pose an existential crisis to their ability operate and be given no help to deflect some of the costs. Fortunately, however, there are businesses and individuals who see the importance of HBCUs to the Black community and are willing to lend their hands 鈥 and their dollars 鈥 to support them.
The (SFI), a non-profit chaired by philanthropist and entrepreneur Robert F. Smith and , has raised millions of dollars to help HBUs comply with the Education Department鈥檚 mandates. Cisco alone donated $150 million to the SFI with $100 million allocated to bringing HBCU cybersecurity system upgrades and $50 million going to establish an endowment to offer alternative student loans.
With $89 million already distributed to 42 HBCUs across the nation, the initiative has already saved about $1.5 billion in needs-based funding to these colleges and universities and is making strong inroads to helping these institutions meet the new cybersecurity regulations, but more is required if all HBCUs are to be saved.
Given the empowering impact HBCUs have on the nation鈥檚 Black community and the future promise of a more inclusive America, it is imperative that more companies support the work the Student Freedom Initiative is doing to ensure these vital higher education schools can continue to educate and inspire future generations.
As Vice President Harris said, 鈥淲hat you learn at an HBCU is you do not have to fit into somebody鈥檚 limited perspective on what it means to be young, gifted and Black.鈥
We in the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) stand in strong support of the Student Freedom Initiative. We all should work together to ensure the sustainability of HBCUs in America.
Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is chairman of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) and president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).