The formation of a new Congressional Caucus was recently announced in support of Predominantly Black Institutions.
Announced on Wednesday, the caucus is made up of Democratic representatives. Danny K. Davis, Robin Kelly, Yvette D. Clarke and Jonathan Jackson. Together, the leaders will work to draw attention to Predominantly Black Institutions, also known as PBIs, highlighting their importance and working towards amending policies to provide aid to these institutions.
“I’ve long fought to ensure PBIs have the funding they need to support our nation’s future leaders and take great pride in my work to secure more than $31 million in funding for New York PBIs, including the City University of New York, Medgar Evers College, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Metropolitan College of New York, and others,” said Clarke per a statement.
“As members of Congress, we have a moral responsibility to support these colleges for the students who rely on them, and I am honored to stand alongside my colleagues in the creation of this critical PBI Caucus.”
Congresspersons Davis, Clarke, Jackson, and Kelly Establish Congressional Caucus to Support Predominantly Black Institutions. PBI's represent 4 and 2-year institutions that educate urban and rural Black students with personal and financial barriers. https://t.co/1TVfEXBUKi pic.twitter.com/UOSSemqRCx
— Rep. Danny K. Davis (@RepDannyDavis) October 25, 2023
PBIs were first acknowledged by Congress in 2007 under the Strengthening Predominantly Black Institutions Program which was created as part of the Higher Education Act.
A year later, the institutional category of the two or four-year colleges was created until the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 which was built from the Higher Education Act of 1965.
With approximately 110 PBIs currently identified across the U.S., the purpose of the colleges is to provide an affordable education for members of underserved communities. To be classified as a PBI, the institute needs to have a student population of 1,000 undergraduates.
Per Inside Higher Ed, for an institution to be categorized as a PBI, there needs to be at least 40% Black undergraduate students and 50% of low-income or first-generation learners. Although they make up only three percent of postsecondary institutions, PBIs accounted for nine percent of all Black American students in higher education, currently serving nearly 450,000 students.
“PBI funding has served as a critical vehicle for community colleges to eliminate barriers to access, resolve equity issues and support students in successfully completing their educational objectives,” said the President of PBI Malcolm X College per a statement in response to the announcement of the caucus. “Malcolm X College has received nearly $7M in PBI funding to help Black students realize the American dream. My deep appreciation goes to U.S. Reps Danny K. Davis, Yvette Clarke, Jonathan Jackson and Robin Kelly for their advocacy and support of our students.”
