Photo retrieved from: History.com
Executive Orders from The White House are aiming towards Historically Black Colleges and Universities to help fund the institutions.
Many people believe that former president Barack Obama did not do enough during his two terms to support predominately African American institutions.
Omarosa Manigault, an alumna of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and Howard University in Washington is leading the charge.
This order can help a lot of students who attend HBCUs, especially those on the campus of Florida A&M University.
Other students such as Darryl Johnson, a sophomore political science major from Tampa, expressed how the order can benefit him by limiting financial burdens.
“This order could really be great for me and my family, everyone doesn’t have the money to get through college. I’ve already taken out more than 4 student loans, and I’m a sophomore.”
Tori Smith, a political science junior from Orlando, may also have the chance to recover from the debt of student loans.
“If this order does get approved, I might have a chance of getting out of student loan debt.”
“I have to work two jobs just to get through college, and I’ve still had to take out student loans. Financial aid isn’t enough sometimes, especially to last through the whole semester. This order could give me a relief.”
A lot of HBCUs struggle comes from the lack of resources and lower endowments. Students that come from a low income household depend on the government’s assistance. In 2011, many HBCU students maxed out their federal loan options, which caused the government to tighten loan criterias. Many students and families were unaware of this change and were rejected from PLUS loan programs. According to US News & World Report, between 2011 and 2013, there were 45 percent fewer PLUS loan recipients.
Georgia Richardson, a professor at the Art Institute in Ft.Lauderdale stated that she hopes the administration will execute the executive order efficiently.
“I appreciate this administration, looking at the needs of HBCUs. I hope that their motives are pure and effective, when it comes to helping all HBCUs.”