Issue link: http://digital.corporatepress.com/i/323271
14 | may/june 2014 | Facilities Manager membership matters M any African American and other minority students choose to attend an HBCU (historically black college or university) not only to earn a quality education, but also to gain a sense of identity and heri- tage. Many prominent Americans have graduated from HBCUs, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Morehouse Col- lege), Oprah Winfrey (Tennessee State University), and Andrew Young, former ambassador to the United Nations and Atlanta mayor (Howard University). In fact, in the African American community, 65 percent of physicians, 50 percent of engineers, and 35 percent of lawyers have graduated from an HBCU. PROBLEMS HBCUS FACE Along with aging campuses and out- of-date technology (all HBCUs were established prior to 1965) HBCUs face budget shortfalls. According to the United Negro College Fund, 46 percent of HBCU students come from families with income lower than $34,000. They also have up to 50 percent lower tuition than their predominantly white coun- terparts and their endowments are far behind. To put this into perspective, in 2012 the total endowments of over 100 HBCUs was $1.6 billion compared to Ivy League Harvard's endowment of $19 billion. HBCUs also have a lower gradu- ation rate due to social and economic circumstances. HOW APPA CAN HELP APPA offers benchmarking tools, such as Facilities Performance Indicators (FPI), and the Facilities Management Evaluation Program (FMEP). These programs can help facilities professionals assess their current situations and make more sound decisions to move forward with projects and spending. Another area of need in HBCUs is professional development of their facili- ties personnel. APPA offers the Institute for Facilities Management, the Leader- ship Academy, the Supervisor's Toolkit, and even offers EFP and CEFP accredi- tations. APPA now offer the invaluable Body of Knowledge (BOK) to all affiliate members through their website. Finally APPA offers networking opportunities through conferences, (regional, international, and state) and other programs like Drive-In Work- shops to create strong relationships How You Can Help APPA Partner With HCBUs By Chris Ziolkowski