IN THE NEWS - Proposal to Merge HBCUs Draws Fire

Proposal to Merge HBCUs Draws Fire

By AFRO Staff


Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (Courtesy Photo/governing.com)

(November 22, 2009) - Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is facing widespread criticism for his proposal to merge the state’s three historically Black universities into one institution, BlackAmericaWeb.com reported.

Barbour has proposed merging Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University into Jackson State University to cut losses in revenue and the increasing numbers of staff required to oversee each. While the schools would be recognized as one institution, each campus would continue to operate on its own, Barbour said in a statement. According to state calculations, the move would save $35 million annually.

However, lawmakers and the schools’ presidents hope the governor will create other ideas to save funds that will not merge the campuses.

“Every time the money is tight, they look at cutting money for our colleges or merging,” state Sen. David Jordan, a Democrat from Greenwood, told BlackamericaWeb.com. “We whipped the proposal when it came up in 1992, and we’ll whip it again. We’re willing to fight and do whatever is necessary to keep our institutions.”

If Barbour’s proposal is approved, the school would merge in fiscal year 2011, but the state would not see savings from the changes until the following year.

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