For former Tennessee State University President Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, the fight over equitable funding for HBCUs is far from over.
During the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 55th Annual Legislative Conference, Glover discussed the decades of underfunding faced by Tennessee State University and other historically Black land-grant institutions across the country.
The CPA and attorney, who led TSU from 2013 to 2024, details that fight in her new book, How Dare You: An HBCU President's Fight for Half a Billion Dollars Owed—and the State's Actions to Avoid Payment.
At the center of the dispute is $544.3 million that a Tennessee legislative analysis found TSU had been underfunded between 1957 and 2021. A separate federal analysis released in 2023 estimated that TSU would have received nearly $2.15 billion more between 1987 and 2020 if its state funding per student had been equal to Tennessee's predominantly white land-grant institution.
Glover said the disparity deprived TSU of resources that could have supported its students, faculty, facilities and research for decades.
And Tennessee isn't alone. A federal analysis of the nation's 18 historically Black land-grant universities found funding disparities in 16 states, totaling nearly $13 billion between 1987 and 2020.
Glover also called for greater investment in HBCU research programs. Howard University is currently the only HBCU classified as Research 1 under the Carnegie Classification system, which requires institutions to meet thresholds for both research spending and doctoral degree production.
Despite the funding challenges, Glover said HBCUs have continued finding ways to support students and improve retention and graduation, pointing to changes TSU made during her tenure, including expanded advising and mentorship.
For Glover, leading an HBCU requires both preparation and a willingness to advocate for the institution. And when it comes to TSU, she maintains that the documented history of underfunding should remain part of the public conversation.
Listen to the full conversation below!
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