New Orleans' black colleges in big trouble

[flowomo]

"New Orleans’ historically black institutions, with their relatively slight endowments and heavily damaged campuses, face a steep uphill climb if they are to survive as anything more than a shadow of their former selves. As was the case with people in New Orleans, geography and economics did not favor black institutions, which were in parts of the city that suffered extensively, while wealthier, predominantly white institutions were relatively dry. And insurance was common at the wealthier, but less prevalent at the black institutions.

Even Tulane University, with its $810 million endowment, and 12,700 students – pre-Katrina – decided to cut 230 faculty members recently, and to do away with four of its six engineering programs. With the devastated areas of New Orleans still barren, what fate will befall Xavier University, Southern University in New Orleans, and Dillard University when classes start in January?"

detailed discussion of each of the three schools at:
http://insidehighered.com/news/2005/12/15/hbcu

[funkybutt]

1. Not Good

Xavier looks okay to me. I think they'll do okay if they can find or provide housing for their student body.

Dillard took it really bad BUT this statement isn't true, "Dillard had over 10 feet of water even two months after the hurricane." (unless it's referring to a basement) I begin driving by there in early October and the water was gone.

However, just because the water has drained away doesn't mean it's all good. All those first levels (at least) will have to be gutted and completely reconstructed. I dont' think they're going to be back on that campus for a long time.

:(

[flowomo]

2. very sad....

about a dozen of the Dillard students were offered spaces for the fall semester at the small college at which I teach in Central Pennsylvania. Two were in my class, and they were both fairly certain that they would not be going back to Dillard because of the uncertainties. Sad for all concerned.

[KamaAina]

3. What on Earth is going on with SUNO (Southern U. at N.O.)?

According to the initial cuts, though, the list of academic programs is severely diminished. Staple departments like English, physics, chemistry, and math will all be gone. Courses will still be offered, but no degrees will be given in those and 15 other areas. Faculty members are still hoping that some of those programs will be reinstated, and (chancellor -Ed.) Gex said that it is a possibility.

Unlike Xavier and Dillard, Southern is public, and can count on some state funding, though the state budget is severely decreased. If the academic program slashes remain in place, faculty members are concerned that Southern will cease to be a comprehensive institution of higher education.

Bear in mind that even when I lived in N.O., which was so long ago that the phrase "President Bush" could be uttered without :rofl: , there was a move to merge SUNO with the nearby, much larger University of New Orleans (UNO), in the name of "integrating" the public higher ed system. SUNO students, especially those in the teacher prep program, raised Cain, and the idea was shelved. Now it just looks like death by a thousand cuts; with no English or math department, I fear, they will soon be receiving a visit from the regional accreditation agency.

What sucks is that I had come up with a plan for a La. public college to offer extension courses in the key evacuee cities such as Houston and Atlanta, in areas like architectural drafting that will soon be in high demand back home -- and the institution I had settled on was Southern, taking the race-neutral view that it's the only one based mainly outside the affected area (in Baton Rouge) but with a presence in New Orleans (at SUNO), making the eventual transfer of credits when students return as seamless as possible. :shrug:

[KamaAina]

4. Of Tulane's 230 faculty cuts, 180 were in the med school

apparently they're retrenching the clinical side of the med school to match the city's current population, which could prove to be a mistake if and when people start to return in numbers.

As to engineering, it seems to me the city needs as many highly qualified engineers as it can get at this point, civil engineers in particular. That particular cut also seems a bit shortsighted.

The hope was that Tulane would serve as the "locomotive" to pull the NOLA higher ed train out of the muck and mire. So much for that briliant plan, for now anyway (sigh).