United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is a prominent educational assistance organization established on April 25, 1944, under the leadership of Frederick D. Patterson at the Tuskegee Institute. Initially formed with twenty-seven member colleges, UNCF has evolved to support thirty-seven historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as of 2024. The organization is dedicated to raising operating funds for these institutions to ensure they uphold high academic standards and effectively prepare students for various professional careers.
UNCF primarily serves schools located in the Southeast and eastern Texas, many of which were established by Northern religious societies in the post-Civil War era. Although these HBCUs represent only about 3 percent of all U.S. colleges and universities, they play a crucial role in higher education, producing nearly 20 percent of all African American undergraduate degree holders and around 40 percent of African American doctoral degree recipients. The contributions of UNCF graduates extend into various sectors, as they emerge as community leaders, educators, and professionals, thereby enhancing the fabric of society.
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United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
Under the direction of Frederick D. Patterson, president of the Tuskegee Institute, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) was established on April 25, 1944, with twenty-seven member colleges and a combined enrollment of fourteen thousand students. The goal was to become one of the world’s leading education assistance organizations. With a few exceptions, most UNCF member institutions had been founded by religious societies from the North after the Civil War and before the turn of the century. Located principally in the Southeast and in eastern Texas, these institutions operate with a variety of organizational structures and program offerings.
Since its inception, UNCF has grown to become the United States’ oldest and most successful African American higher-education assistance organization. As of 2024, UNCF provided support for a consortium of thirty-seven historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). UNCF raises operating money for its member schools so that they can maintain the highest academic standards and prepare their students for demanding professions and careers. Although these institutions constitute only about 3 percent of all colleges and universities in the United States, they graduate nearly 20 percent of all African Americans who earn undergraduate degrees and nearly 40 percent of African Americans who later earn a doctoral degree. These graduates help build a stronger nation as community leaders and educators and in numerous other vocations.
Bibliography
Bridges, Brian. “African Americans and College Education by the Numbers.” UNCF, https://uncf.org/the-latest/african-americans-and-college-education-by-the-numbers. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.
Britton, Tolani A., et al. “And Still, I Rise: A Theory of Institutional Resilience at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.” Journal of Negro Education, vol. 92, no. 1, Winter 2023, pp. 77–93. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=177252682&site=ehost-live. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.
Gasman, Marybeth. Envisioning Black Colleges: A History of the United Negro College Fund. Johns Hopkins UP, 2007.
Hatfield, Jenn, and Monica Anderson. “Enrollment at HBCUs: A Closer Look.” Pew Research Center, 2 Oct. 2024, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/10/02/a-look-at-historically-black-colleges-and-universities-in-the-u-s/. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.
“UNCF Celebrates 80 Years.” Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, vol. 41, no. 3, May 2024, p. 8. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=c33b6c2a-4045-37e8-9797-623440a2fbe8. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.
“Who We Are.” UNCF, uncf.org/about. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.