April 1st 2024.
Spelman College has seen a significant increase in the number of applications received since the tragic murder of George Floyd in 2020. In fact, there has been a remarkable 13% surge in applications within the past year alone. This surge has not gone unnoticed, as Bloomberg reported that Spelman, an all-women's HBCU in Atlanta, experienced a 30% increase in applicants between 2020 and 2024. Dr. Helene Gayle, physician and president of Spelman, attributed this rise to the impact of Floyd's murder.
The surge in applications is a clear indication of the changing attitudes of young people towards higher education. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Dr. Gayle explained that the nurturing environment at Spelman, where students are valued and can see themselves reflected in the faculty and curriculum, has become even more appealing to potential applicants. This shift in perspective is also influenced by the recent Supreme Court ruling on race in college admissions, which has caused some concern among students and families. The ruling, as previously mentioned by BLACK ENTERPRISE, has led to a decrease in the consideration of race in the admissions process.
As colleges across the country begin to announce their admission decisions for the first application season since the Supreme Court ruling, some institutions are facing financial constraints. These challenges are due to declines in enrollment and shifts in demographics, as seen with Birmingham-Southern College's announcement that it will cease operations in 2024 due to a lack of funding.
However, Spelman's surge in applicants defies the nationwide trend of declining enrollments, which has forced some smaller colleges to close their doors. This success can also be attributed to the generous support of donors. Most notably, Spelman received a historic $100 million gift from businesswoman Ronda Stryker and her husband, William Johnston. Of this amount, $75 million will fund endowed scholarships to attract top students, while $25 million will support public policy and democracy studies, housing improvements, and other strategic needs. This donation is the largest single gift ever received by a Historically Black College or University.
In addition to this remarkable donation, Spelman has also received significant contributions from other philanthropists. In 2022, the college announced a $5 million grant from the Mellon Foundation, which will be used for faculty development and interdisciplinary programs. The previous year, a $5 million grant from Google aimed to increase diversity in STEM fields. These donations are a testament to the impact and importance of Spelman College in today's society. They also follow two $40 million donations in 2020 from philanthropists MacKenzie Scott and Patty Quillin, who donated with Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. These generous contributions will undoubtedly help Spelman continue to thrive and provide a top-notch education to its students.
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