Simmons, Kentucky State Announce Racial Equity Partnership
Kentucky’s historically black colleges and universities will partner to reduce racial inequities in the commonwealth through education, professional training, and research.
Leaders from Simmons College of Kentucky and Kentucky State University signed a memorandum of understanding this afternoon to commit institutional resources to reboot a 1968 national study on race, while using academic and professional development to reduce systemic disparities between African Americans and other ethnic groups in the region.
Dubbed the “Kerner Commission 2.0,” the partnership will develop a new-age edition of the 1967 federal commission which studied causes of and solutions for civil unrest throughout the United States, which in the year of the study’s commissioning accounted for more than 83 deaths and greater than 1,800 injuries, and more than $100 million in property damage.
“The basic conclusion of the Kerner Commission report is that our nation is moving towards two societies, one black, one white, separate and unequal,” said Dr. Frank Smith, the vice president of Simmons College who will serve as the executive coordinator of the commission.
“What was true in 1968 is still true in 2020. And blacks today still basically function as subordinates to white power and control. It is time for something new,” Smith said.
The collaborative effort will also partner with local school systems to foster increased access to teacher training programs in Louisville and Frankfort and will call upon non-profit and corporate communities to make greater investments in the historically black campuses.
(Kentucky State President M. Christopher) Brown said HBCUs are uniquely positioned to help address educational and economic inequality, but they must be properly funded.
“If the commonwealth can support Simmons and Kentucky State we will see a true closing of the achievement gap. We will see a true closing of the racial wealth gap,” Brown said.
The historic underfunding of HBCU’s, (Simmons President Kevin) Cosby explained, is an example of the systemic racism that has permeated the U.S. for generations.
“Racism is the total maldistribution of wealth into the hands of the white society,” he said.
Fitch Calls Tuition Discounting “Unsustainable” Model in COVID-19 Recovery
Credit rating research firm Fitch Ratings has published a bleak report on the outlook for higher education’s private sector, suggesting that decreased enrollment and models of discounting tuition will be an untenable model for thousands of campuses nationwide.
The report says that enrollment could decline between five and 20% for the entire industry, and while public institutions will be hurt by a drop in median tuition and fee revenue of 38%, private institutions’ median revenue of 82% face greater potential harm in reduced student numbers.
Tuition constraints will exacerbate the financial effects of enrollment declines. The economic downturn could weaken expected family contributions, increase financial aid needs and undermine enrollment decisions. College discount rates are expected to rise in an effort to attract and retain students. The median discount rate for Fitch’s rated portfolio of private colleges is about 35%; however, the range varies widely from less than 10% to more than 60%. The national average discount rate of about 40% is even higher for entering freshman and is viewed by Fitch as unsustainable.
Our ratings incorporate a forward-looking scenario approach, based on a global set of macroeconomic baseline and downside conditions. For higher education, the base case assumes that most residential campuses will reopen for the fall 2020 session with enrollment declines of up to 10%. Fitch’s downside scenario assumes a slower economic recovery driven by prolonged or recurring coronavirus-related disruptions, including sporadic campus closures into 2021. This scenario anticipates larger enrollment declines of up to 20% in addition to other operating and financial pressures, such as underperforming auxiliaries and weaker endowment financial performance.
Last fall, the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) reported that incoming first-year students received an average discount of 53% percent at private colleges and universities — a practice that can tank a small college’s financial standing in just a handful of years.
Paul Quinn Announces Campus COVID-19 Testing Site, Food Distribution
Paul Quinn College will serve as a coronavirus testing location beginning this week, offering free screenings and food giveaways to residents of the surrounding Dallas metropolitan area.
The “Safe For My City” campaign will run between June 18 and throughout the month of July on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Residents in need of food access are not required to receive COVID-19 testing to be eligible for the distribution.
“The Quinnite Nation is committed to doing its part in the fight against COVID-19. Having watched people we know and love suffer from this scourge, we have a unique understanding of the threat the virus poses,” said Michael J. Sorrell, President, Paul Quinn College. “We agree with the doctors and scientists who have stated that direct action – via testing, wearing masks, and social distancing – can and will make a difference in this fight. We are looking forward to supporting the City of Dallas and everyone else who is working tirelessly to save lives and protect our community.”
Paul Quinn joins Florida A&M University and Dillard University among HBCUs to open campus-based coronavirus testing sites in recent weeks. According to city officials, Dallas has recorded more than 14,232 COVID-19 cases and 284 deaths in Dallas County.
