Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Success Advisory Board Meeting July 28, 2020 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm CST Agenda

Adoption of Agenda

Approval of Minutes, December 17, 2019 Meeting

Chairwoman’s Report

THEC Staff Report

Agenda Item I. Mobilizing the HBCU Advisory Board to Respond to COVID-19 II. Advancing Public Awareness of TN HBCUs

Adjournment TENNESSEE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISION MINUTES OF THE HBCU SUCCESS ADVISORY BOARD Winter Meeting December 17, 2019

Director Brittany Mosby called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m.

Member PRESENT ABSENT Mr. Spruell Driver X Mrs. Laschinski Emerson X Dr. Sharon Gentry X Ms. Sandra Long X Mr. Doug Magee X Ms. Deidre Malone X Mr. Damon Rawls X Commissioner Van Turner X Dr. Fallon Wilson X Ex-Officio Members PRESENT ABSENT President Logan Hampton X Interim President Carol Johnson Dean X President Forest Harris* President Kevin Rome* President Keith Lindsey X President Glenda Glover X President James Hildreth X

*Joseph Watkins attended on behalf of Dr. Kevin Rome Demetria McCroskey attended on behalf of Dr. Forest Harris.

Other attendees: Mike Krause, executive director, THEC; Betty Dandridge Johnson, chief academic officer, THEC; and Dr. Chris Davis, chair of LeMoyne Owen College Board of Trustees

OPENING REMARKS

Director Brittany Mosby announced that without a quorum present, the order of the meeting would need to be adjusted. Presentation and approval of the advisory board bylaws and election of officers will be rescheduled for a conference call at a later date.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Dr. Brittany Mosby provided an update on several HBCU Success programs at THEC, including: • The 2019 HBCU Summer Bridge Program grants. A report with information about each institution’s program and overall budget was provided. Dr. Mosby remarked that the programs had shown great early success, with above average retention rates for the summer-to-fall transition. Further data on various outcomes measures will be available in the spring. In October THEC hosted a summer bridge symposium and invited HBCUs as well as staff from UT Chattanooga, East Tennessee State University, Jackson State Community College, and the University of Memphis. Overall attendance and reception of the summit were very positive, with requests to reconvene soon. A request for funding has been included in the state higher education budget for FY2020. • The HBCU Success website has been revamped and is now live for sharing. Board members were encouraged to share the link with their networks. The website will be updated with most recent news, as well as reports and research conducted for HBCU Success. • The FUTURE Act and Title III Funding. Dr. Mosby provided a brief overview of the federal statutes that authorize funding for HBCUs under the Higher Education Act of 1965. Tennessee HBCUs receive nearly $20 million collectively under Parts B and F of the Title III statute. The recently passed FUTURE Act made permanent the authorization for funding under part F; and simplified the FAFSA by removing 22 questions from the form. The FUTURE Act also makes it easier to share information between the IRS and US Department of Education, so that verification for income based repayment plans is easier for student borrowers. After extensive discussion on Part F and its implications particularly for preparing HBCU students for the future of work, the board agreed to produce a report on the state of STEM-related innovation among Tennessee HBCUs, highlighting collaboration and 21st century competencies. Dr. Wilson and Ms. Long will lead this effort. Dr. Mosby also proposed supplementing the report with all current Title III activities, in order to leverage funding in other areas. A meeting of Title III Coordinators will be scheduled for 2020. • 2020 Joint Day on the Hill. The date February 25, 2020 has been reserved at the Cordell Hull State Office Building. HBCU Success will have student poster presentations, a summer bridge program display, and a panel of HBCU presidents for the day’s events.

AGENDA ITEMS

I. HBCU Statewide Scholarship Proposal Present members engaged in discussion about who and how to best serve students with an HBCU scholarship. Dr. Wilson, Dr. Johnson Dean, Dr. Davis, and Mr. Watkins pointed out various issues and concerns that students have with meeting financial requirements, particularly for low income, first generation students. Ms. McCroskey also mentioned the overwhelming burden that FAFSA verification has on both students and financial aid administrators. Dr. Johnson Dean recommended focusing on students in their final semesters who are unable to complete their degree programs because their funding has run out. Dr. Mosby informed the board that she would write a proposal, taking into accounts the suggestions and concerns raised by the board. The proposal would be shared with board members, presidents, and financial aid officers for further input. The earliest such a proposal could be considered would be FY2021.

II. Tennessee HBCU Consortium Dr. Mosby reminded the board that Tennessee statute makes reference to an HBCU Consortium, made up of all seven institutions across the state. However in practice, such a collective does not exist. Dr. Mosby provided two examples of consortia: the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) and the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA). The floor was then open for discussion about what benefits of membership would be attractive to the consortium. Emergent ideas that the board requested follow up research on were: cross registration and articulation (for example pathway from Lane College to Tennessee State University for nursing), an online course and program collaborative, a trustee training summit, and a study abroad program.

NEXT MEETING

Dr. Mosby advised the board that the next scheduled meeting would be April 21, 2020; followed by a meeting on October 20, 2020. Dr. Mosby also reminded the group to be on the lookout for an email scheduling a phone conference in January to adopt the bylaws and elect officers.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m. Agenda Item: I.

DATE: July 28, 2020

SUBJECT: Mobilizing the HBCU Advisory Board to Respond to COVID-19

ACTION RECOMMENDED: Discussion

BACKGROUND: In June 2020, THEC staff distributed a survey to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) presidents, provosts, and chief operating officers pertaining to campus response to COVID-19 and their on-going challenges and needs. Responses were received from Fisk University, Lane College, Knoxville College, and Tennessee State University. The responses to this survey are summarized below, along with supplemental information from peer institutions and other sources.

American Campus’ Immediate Response Baptist College In response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in early 2020, all Tennessee

Fisk University HBCUs suspended in-person instruction and residential occupancy by April 1, 2020 and moved to an online/virtual format for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester. Knoxville Preparation and capacity for online instruction varied considerably across campuses. College

Lane College Instruction was delivered both synchronously and asynchronously, largely at individual instructor’s discretion. Many campuses use Microsoft products, including LeMoyne Owen Office365 and Teams to facilitate remote learning and convening. Learning College Management Systems (LMS) used by Tennessee HBCUs include Canvas, Blackboard, Meharry and Brightspace. Prior to COVID-19 disruption, only one campus reported 100 percent Medical of faculty teaching at least one online course in a previous semester. The median College value across all institutions ranged from 20-30 percent of faculty members. Tennessee Institutions provided support for faculty through professional development and State instructional design staff employed by the institution. All institutions indicated a University desire for access to a repository of available resources (such as technology, pedagogy, and student support).

For those institutions that surveyed students, between 30 to 60 percent of students did not have reliable access to high speed internet once off campus. Several campuses have begun sourcing and purchasing equipment and data plans for students as plans for the fall semester evolve. Institutions have also indicated that a wide variety of technology platforms outside of enterprise purchases were implemented during the spring semester, including Zoom, Skype, YouTube, TopHat, Facebook/Instagram Live, and GroupMe.

Fall 2020 Operational Plans Operational plans for the fall 2020 semester vary significantly across Tennessee’s HBCUs. Many institutions are considering multiple options, dependent on the most recent local and state public health guidelines. Based on survey responses, plans can be classified into one of three broad categories.

Plan Description In-person Resume the fall semester in person, on campus with the whole student body. Semester schedule adjusted to remove any breaks and to end prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. Health/safety measures include mandatory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), temperature checks, social distancing, diminished occupancy in classrooms and residence halls, increased sanitation and hygiene protocols. Hybrid/Staggered Only a portion of students return to campus at any given time. Online learning for those students not on campus. Semester schedule adjusted to remove any breaks and to end prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. Health/safety measures include mandatory PPE, temperature checks, social distancing, diminished occupancy in classrooms and residence halls, increased sanitation and hygiene protocols. Virtual All classes completed online for the fall 2020 semester; students are not housed in residence halls on campus.

As of July 14, 2020, the following fall 2020 plans have been shared with THEC staff:

. Fisk University - Class sizes will be reduced to one-third capacity. A staggered schedule will be implemented to allow each student to have a single room. First-year students will come to campus in August and attend in-person classes for the first seven weeks. After the midterm, first-years will continue instruction online from home. Upperclassmen will start fall courses online, and finish in-person during the second seven weeks.

. Lane College - Final decisions have not been made at this time. Potential plans have been developed for in-person (Lane FastStart), hybrid (Lane SOAR), and virtual (Lane VR) scenarios.

. Tennessee State University – Classes will resume on August 17, 2020 with virtual instruction for the first two weeks of the semester. Tuition and fees may be discounted up to 15 percent for students taking all online classes. Athletic events have been cancelled through September, with university staff reviewing options for the October 10 homecoming game. Physical spaces are being modified to comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended social distancing

2 guidelines. Additional screens and shields are being considered for customer service areas.

The following Tennessee institutions are planning to return to in-person operations for the fall semester (this list is not exhaustive): University of Memphis, Middle Tennessee State University, UT Knoxville, UT Health Science Center, Vanderbilt University, Carson-Newman University, and Lipscomb University. Common to each of these institutions is a plan to end in-person classes by November 20 (for the Thanksgiving holiday), and completing the end of the semester, including final exams, remotely.

Below are the proposed plans from peer HBCU institutions not in Tennessee, representing each of the possible campus scenarios. These institutions have been selected for comparison based on similarity to Tennessee HBCUs, and publications of a comprehensive plan.

. Spelman College – Hybrid re-opening for fall. Only first-year students (and a small group of others) will be housed on campus in single occupancy rooms. All other upper-class students will complete the fall semester virtually. A tuition discount of 10 percent and 40 percent on mandatory fees will be offered for students who are completely remote. The spring 2021 semester will begin in February, and a “J-term” will be offered online for students who wish/need to take additional courses. . Wiley College – Virtual instruction for fall. Semester will begin August 3 and conclude on November 20. All fall sports, homecoming, and nonessential travel for faculty, students, and staff has been cancelled at this time. Laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots have been purchased by the institution for each registered student who expressed need. . North Carolina A&T State University- Currently plans to re-open in person for the fall. Semester will begin on August 19 and end before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Whether in-person, hybrid, or virtual, campuses have noted the need for significant resource development in order to ensure the best possible educational outcomes for students. Virtual and hybrid responses will need technology/infrastructure support, including devices for students and software and cloud services for faculty and staff. In-person and hybrid responses will need PPE, sanitation supplies, and access to screening and testing equipment. Additionally, those institutions returning to partial or full in-person operations will need to develop contingency plans for a potential outbreak/resurgence in the fall.

COVID-19 RELIEF RESOURCES The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act of 2020 provided two waves of funding to Tennessee’s HBCUs, through sections 18004(a)(1), which provided relief funds to all eligible institutions of higher education based on proportion of Pell grant eligible students, and 18004(a)(2) which provided additional funds to minority serving institutions (MSIs), and particularly to HBCUs in amounts proportionate to Higher Education Act (HEA) Title III funding. A summary of amounts each Tennessee HBCU is eligible for is provided below, along with the 2019 Title III appropriation, for comparison.

3 Total Total 2019 HEA CARES Act 18004(a)(1) 18004(a)(2) Title III Part B Total Allocation Allocation Allocation American Baptist College $152,145 $183,960 $336,105 $1,771,390 Fisk University $1,085,474 $1,482,072 $2,567,546 $1,795,561 Lane College $2,430,978 $2,847,630 $5,278,608 $2,436,244 LeMoyne Owen College $1,660,276 $1,892,226 $3,552,502 $1,617,526 Meharry Medical College $219,976 $336,196 $556,172 N/A Tennessee State University $7,214,661 $16,236,433 $23,451,094 $7,221,955 TN HBCU Total $12,763,510 $22,978,517 $35,742,027

Federal guidance and regulations on the use and expenditure of CARES Act relief funds are evolving. All institutions indicated a need for technical assistance in understanding current US Department of Education (DOE) regulations. Institutions have already begun dispersing direct aid to students to cover unexpected costs from being displaced during the spring 2020 semester.

NEXT STEPS Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated §49-7-217, the statutory duties of the Tennessee HBCU Advisory Board include improving the overall capabilities of HBCUs and encouraging public-private partnerships to support their academic mission. As representatives from a variety of industries and communities, advisory board members, working in concert with HBCU presidents and administration, should develop a plan of action that addresses the needs outlined above. This plan should include securing technical, financial, and public support from businesses, organizations, and individuals.

4 Agenda Item: II.

DATE: July 28, 2020

SUBJECT: Advancing Public Awareness of TN HBCUs

ACTION RECOMMENDED: Information

BACKGROUND One of the five statutory goals of the Tennessee Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Success legislation is to improve the availability, dissemination, and quality of information concerning HBCUs to inform public policy and practice. To that end, the Director of HBCU Success compiles relevant and current news items that

pertain to or affect Tennessee’s HBCUs.

Responding to COVID-19 Tennessee’s HBCUs are active and essential parts of the higher education sector, locally and nationally. Whether providing health and wellness programs to the community, developing partnerships to advance diversity in the workforce, or American contributing to civic discourse, Tennessee HBCU students, faculty, and staff make the Baptist College community richer and stronger. The COVID-19 global pandemic has affected all Fisk University aspects of society. Tennessee HBCUs have been leading the way in proactive response to support those most at-risk and in-need. Knoxville College . American Baptist College Historically black colleges work to help students amid Lane College virus (May 15, 2020) LeMoyne- https://apnews.com/0c25ad439851f9534a050f58acb138d4 Owen College . Lane College HBCU President serves as a witness in Senate HELP Committee hearing Meharry (June 4, 2020) Medical College https://www.globenewswire.com/news- release/2020/06/04/2043962/0/en/HBCU-President-Serves-as-a-Witness-in- Tennessee State Senate-HELP-Committee-Hearing.html University . LeMoyne-Owen College, community helping students impacted by COVID-19 (June 22, 2020) https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/local/lemoyne-owen-college-community- helping-students-impacted-by-covid-19/RTKAM5E3GZHI7MNNZOID6S7UCE/ . Meharry Medical College The HBCU professor racing to develop an antiviral drug for COVID-19 (June 23, 2020) https://www.forbes.com/sites/briannegarrett/2020/06/23/the-hbcu-professor- racing-to-develop-an-antiviral-drug-for-covid-19/#3406fbcf4b20 . Meharry Medical College joins COVID-19 vaccine trials network (June 30, 2020) https://www.wsmv.com/news/meharry-medical-college-joins-covid-19-vaccine- trials-network/article_0d4866fc-bad2-11ea-9218-170af3aae7fc.html . Oprah Winfrey donates $2 million to HBCU Tennessee State and its surrounding community (May 20, 2020) https://theundefeated.com/features/oprah-winfrey-donates-2-million-to-hbcu- tennessee-state-and-its-surrounding-community/

Community Engagement Tennessee’s HBCUs have a long tradition of active engagement in the overall welfare and justice for their communities. This year has been no exception, with remarkable participation from HBCU leaders.

. Lane College Gov. Lee appoints new Capitol Commission member as debate over Nathan Bedford Forrest bust rages (June 25, 2020) https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/25/gov-lee-appoints- logan-hampton-capitol-commission/3254424001/ . LeMoyne Owen College quadruples endowment with $40 million from Community Foundation (July 1, 2020) https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/education/2020/07/02/lemoyne- owen-college-receives-40-million-endowment-community-foundation/5363525002/

New Academic Programs As the state continues its strategic push for 55 percent of Tennesseans to have a postsecondary credential by the year 2025, Tennessee’s HBCUs are working to fill the gap by offering cutting-edge and relevant academic programs to students.

. Meharry Medical College gets $8 million for school program (July 7, 2020) https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/meharry-medical-college-gets-8-million-for- school-program/ . Local medical college partners with Wharton business school on new degree program (July 6, 2020) https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2020/07/06/local-medical-college- partners-with-wharton.html . Fisk University partners with Asurion to launch new data science scholarship program with $200,000 investment (June 9, 2020) https://www.fisk.edu/university-news-and-publications/fisk-university-partners-with- asurion-to-launch-new-data-science-scholarship-program-with-200000-investment/ . Fisk and Meharry arrive at agreement to fast-track medical and dental school admissions (May 11, 2020)

2 https://www.fisk.edu/university-news-and-publications/fisk-and-meharry-arrive-at- agreement-to-fast-track-medical-and-dental-school-admissions-for-select- undergrad-students/

National News

. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education: HBCU Fall Preview: Colleges Plan a Phased Return to Campus (June 29, 2020) https://diverseeducation.com/article/182480/ . Diverse: Issues in Higher Education: Racism in Higher Education: Why HBCUs Are a Safe Choice in 2020 (June 17, 2020) https://diverseeducation.com/article/181095/ . Time: Billionaire Robert F. Smith Launches New Initiative to Ease Student Debt at Historically Black Colleges. (June 23, 2020) https://time.com/5857186/robert-f-smith-historically-black-colleges/ . How the protest movement could help HBCUs through higher education’s financial crisis (July 2, 2020) https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/07/02/how-protest-movement- could-help-hbcus-through-school-year-upended-by-covid-19/ . Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Amid rising interest from students, HBCUs must face pandemic’s toll (June 28, 2020) https://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/amid-rising-interest-from-students- hbcus-must-face-pandemic-toll/8w8SMuheazPzpPz0nfj1rN/

CONCLUSION Dissemination of this information is currently achieved through the HBCU Success state website, maintained by THEC staff. Other methods, including an email listserv or newsletter are also being considered. Board members are encouraged to utilize and share the website broadly with other contacts, networks, and relevant constituent groups.

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