Preparing future business leaders today - Business Education Roundtable - Panel Discussion

Black Enterprise, Feb, 1997

The deans of historically black business schools discuss the challenges facing their students and programs

FEW ROLES WILL BE AS CRITICAL AS WE move into the 21st century as preparing the next generation of students at the nation's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) for their place in business. From corporate boardrooms to entrepreneurial businesses, economic parity will continue to be the next civil rights agenda, as witnessed by recent corporate developments.

Until the '60s, HBCUs were the principal architects and developers of black minds and talents, especially in business. The past 20 years or so have seen more African Americans moving into business, particularly in corporations, as the opportunity to attend predominantly white educational institutions opened up. Nevertheless, HBCUs have continued to be a gold mine for black entrepreneurial and executive leadership.

There are 114 HBCUs. Most offer business programs, and 66 award undergraduate degrees in the field. Eighteen offer master's degrees in business, but none has a Ph.D. program yet. In November, BLACK ENTERPRISE gathered together 12 deans of business at leading HBCUs and invited them to participate in the first Business Education Roundtable at our New York office. The discussion focused on the role black B-schools must play in preparing African American students for the coming years in business, and the future of HBCU business school programs.

Roundtable participants were: Dr. Joseph L. Boyd, dean, Norfolk State University School of Business and Entrepreneurship; Dr. Quiester Craig, dean, North Carolina A&T State University School of Business and Economics; Dr. Edward L. Davis, interim dean, Clark Atlanta University School of Business; Dr. Glenda B. Glover, dean, Jackson State University School of Business; Dr. Barron H. Harvey, dean, Howard University School of Business; Dr. Millicent Lownes-Jackson, associate dean, Tennessee State University College of Business; Dr. George M. Neely, associate dean, Tuskegee University School of Business, Organization and Management; Dr. James Parham, dean, Hampton University School of Business; Dr. Lucy J. Reuben, dean, South Carolina State University School of Business; Dr. Willis B. Sheftall Jr., chairman, Department of Economics and Business Administration, Morehouse College School of Business; Dr. Priscilla Dean Slade, dean, Texas Southern University's Jesse H. Jones School of Business; Dr. Otis A. Thomas, dean, Morgan State University's Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management.

MR. EARL G. GRAVES: Welcome and thank you for participating in our first annual BLACK ENTERPRISE Business Education Roundtable. We are all too aware that the increasingly competitive environment in business and corporate America is forcing African Americans to make major adjustments in our educational and professional preparation. As a result, the infrastructure of our institutions of higher learning will be forced to make changes in order to survive and thrive. In light of these developments, what advantage do HBCU business schools offer African American students that business schools in traditionally white institutions do not?

DR. QUIESTER CRAIG: HBCUs have a long heritage of excellence. We believe that the ability to see others who look like ourselves doing things has tremendous impact on the young mind. Second, we create an awareness that success is possible. Awareness is key to aspirations, which drive enthusiasm. We believe that through an awareness of the successful leaders who have been spawned by HBCUs, aspiration is created. It creates the sense, `Not only do I want this, but I can do it.'

DR. PRISCILLA DEAN SLADE: There are primary differences between HBCUs and majority institutions. First, our environment gives students an opportunity to exercise their leadership skills. Often, it's not a matter of racism but a matter of sheer numbers. You don't often get minority students in leadership positions running college campuses. In the HBCU environment, you'll find that students have the opportunity to build leadership skills, to practice what we teach them in the classroom.

Second, the environment allows them to focus on academics as opposed to other ancillary things, such as, `Does this teacher really want me in this room?'--when you should be thinking about what's actually taking place in the classroom.

Third, our systems are designed to allow students to excel. Often in majority school environments you find curves. For example, at one university, a certain percentage of students were required to fail. They want to weed people out. Our basic philosophy is that we should do everything within our power to help our students succeed and excel. That's how our system was built, and the foundation upon which we operate.

DR. GEORGE NEELY: I think, for the most part, we are all located in black communities. So, we have a real opportunity through community development corporations, through the businesses that exist right next to us, through the entrepreneurs and people who are there, to send our students out to do things that will improve the quality of life where we exist. That's a unique laboratory opportunity you don't get at a white school.