A proposed bill in the Mississippi state legislature, Senate Bill 2726, could potentially lead to the closure of three historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) – Mississippi Valley State University, Alcorn State University and Jackson State University.
The bill will require the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (BTSIHL) to select three schools for closure by 2025 based on factors like enrollment, economic impact, and degree programs. There would be a mandatory listening session held at each impacted school.
Jennifer Riley Collins, a HUD administrator and Alcorn State alum, warns that the criteria in the bill puts HBCUs at high risk. She calls for alumni and students to speak up against it.
“The criteria stated within the bill places Alcorn and other HBCUs at high risk if the bill becomes law. This bill does not need to make it out of the current house,” Collins wrote HBCU Buzz.
The HBCU advocate called for alumni and students of the affected schools to stand up and fight back against the proposed legislation.
“It is our First Amendment right to use our collective and individual voices to speak up for the continued viability of the school we love. Please contact legislators and call for the bill to die,” she added.
The bill was introduced by Republican state Senator John Polk, a Republican and representative of Mississippi State Senate’s District 44. Polk, who was first elected in 2012, was assigned to the Senate Universities and College Committee in 2019, according to Ballotpedia. His current term ends on Jan. 4, 2028.
Potential HBCU closures raise important questions about minority education access, cultural heritage preservation, economic impact, and innovation pursuits. Historically, HBCUs have provided higher education opportunities for marginalized groups. Their closure could severely limit access and erase significant African American history.