July 10th 2024.
A highly publicized lawsuit was making headlines as it accused the state of Georgia of neglecting its responsibility of properly funding the state's public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). However, the case was recently dismissed without much fanfare due to limited action being taken.
The plaintiffs agreed to drop the civil case after a federal judge in Atlanta pointed out that there had been no progress since the initial complaint was filed back in October of 2023. The Georgia Board of Regents, which oversees the state's three public HBCUs - Fort Valley State University, Albany State University, and Savannah State University - was named as a defendant in the lawsuit. However, they claimed that they were never served with the legal paperwork.
The lawsuit was initially brought forward by alumni of these HBCUs, who alleged that the board had been redirecting resources away from these institutions and towards predominantly white schools. They also highlighted the noticeable gap in the quality of buildings on HBCU campuses compared to those of predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Additionally, the lawsuit shed light on how HBCUs were more dependent on state funding compared to other schools.
Another point of contention was the lack of representation of HBCU graduates on the board. It was concerning to many that those who had firsthand experience with these institutions were not being heard or given a say in decisions that directly affected them.
In the midst of all this, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona wrote a letter to governors of states that had land-grant HBCUs after the lawsuit was filed. It was revealed that Fort Valley State would have received an additional $603 million in state funding over the past 30 years if it had received the same per-student funding as the University of Georgia (UGA).
The letter emphasized the importance of providing equitable funding to HBCUs, stating that the current inequities were hindering these institutions from reaching their full potential and producing successful graduates in various fields such as education, medicine, engineering, and law.
The response from the University System of Georgia was that they were working on collecting data to address the issue of underfunding. However, supporters of the lawsuit remain determined to fight for significant funding for HBCUs, even after the case was dismissed. John A. Moore, the lawyer representing the three alumni, stressed the need for further research to be done in order to fully understand and address the issue at hand.
He stated, "We always knew that this case would require a lot of effort and time to reach a conclusion, so we are remaining adaptable and committed to representing our clients to the best of our abilities. This case remains our top priority, and we have been consulting on a weekly basis to ensure that we are taking all necessary steps."
A recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture compared funding for land-grant universities and found that both Savannah State and Albany State were not classified as such. In response, University System of Georgia Chancellor Dr. Sonny Perdue disputed the findings, stating that they were "disappointingly reliant on a simplistic 'one size fits all' analysis." He also pointed out that some funding cuts had been prompted for Fort Valley due to a decline in enrollment over the past ten years.
Despite the dismissal of the case, the issue of underfunding for HBCUs remains a pressing concern. It is clear that there is a need for further action and research to ensure that these institutions, which have played a crucial role in shaping the lives of countless students, have the necessary resources to continue their valuable work.
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