Promoting Excellence, Innovation, and Sustainability at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Background

Initial Impact and Intent of the Executive Order

Before it was revoked, Executive Order 13532 had a profound impact on federal engagement with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The order was designed to enhance the capacity of HBCUs to partake in federal programs, foster partnerships, and contribute significantly to the nation’s educational achievements. By facilitating increased federal support, the executive order enabled these institutions to improve their academic facilities, research programs, and student services. This, in turn, contributed to an increase in the graduation rates and overall academic performance of HBCU students.

Under the order, the White House Initiative on HBCUs was established, which served as a crucial liaison between these universities and various government departments. This initiative ensured HBCUs were positioned to maximize opportunities for federal funding and partnerships, thus enabling these institutions to access resources previously underutilized. The emphasis on strategic partnerships with federal agencies, as well as the private sector, created an ecosystem where HBCUs could thrive economically and academically.

The Presidential Board of Advisors on HBCUs, also established by the order, led significant advocacy and advisory functions, helping shape policies favorable to HBCU growth. This board, comprised of individuals from diverse sectors, played a vital role in bringing public attention to the capacity and unique strengths of HBCUs. Its efforts culminated in identifying specific programs and initiatives where these institutions could not only participate but also excel, thereby reinforcing their role as essential contributors to the educational landscape of the United States.

Reason for Revocation

Policy Shift and Ideological Context

The revocation of Barack Obama’s executive order by President Donald Trump in February 2017 appears to align with broader ideological shifts characteristic of his administration. Each administration often sets its tone regarding executive orders, essentially recalibrating the focal points of federal initiatives. Trump's decision was part of a larger effort to consolidate and perhaps streamline federal oversight and initiatives targeting higher education, rather than maintaining an extensive array of discrete support mechanisms such as those tailored for HBCUs.

The Trump administration brought with it a general push for reducing federal regulatory entanglements and enhancing efficiencies in government operations. This ideological stance manifested in the revocation of numerous policies perceived as extensions of federal reach into areas better managed at state or local levels or through market mechanisms. The shift away from specific educational initiatives in favor of broader, less segmented support can be seen as an inclination towards a more unified approach in handling federal education policy.

The potential rationale behind this revocation could also stem from Trump's focus on appealing to a different base; a base characterized by a preference for decentralization and criticism of policies perceived as reflective of identity politics. There might have been a perception that HBCU initiatives, embedded within the order, projected government favoritism towards specific racial groups, contrary to the administration’s aim for neutrality across racial lines in federal policy.

Moreover, it is worth noting that shortly after the revocation, Trump signed a new executive order reestablishing the White House Initiative on HBCUs in the White House instead of the Department of Education. This move indicated a strategic rather than a purely ideological decision, aiming to centralize HBCU advocacy under direct presidential oversight, ostensibly to enhance its effectiveness.

Winners

Potential Beneficiaries of the Revocation

With the revocation, federal agencies may have witnessed increased flexibility in determining how to allocate resources across the broader spectrum of educational institutions. Freed from the obligations set by the specific directives of Obama's order, agencies could steer funding to more general education programs or innovative educational technology ventures, potentially benefiting a wider array of institutions, including those where students attend rather than exclusively HBCUs.

Philanthropic organizations and private enterprises that engage with educational institutions might have found new opportunities to influence the direction of education partnerships and funding. The removal of the restrictive frameworks associated with specific federal mandates allows these entities to pursue alliances based on market incentives or philanthropic goals, potentially supporting broader educational ventures that align with their missions.

Within the political arena, Trump's base may have perceived the revocation as a victory for their views on minimizing what they consider to be an overreach of government authority in targeting policies towards specific racial or ethnic groups. This move may have appealed to a constituency favoring a less interventionist government role that pursues a more universal rather than segmented educational support system.

Losers

Impacted Communities and Institutions

The primary groups affected by the revocation were the HBCUs themselves. The removal of the strategic support mechanisms and structured guidance through the White House Initiative likely led to a reduction in predictable federal support and a decrease in structured partnerships that had been crucial for these institutions. Without an executive order framework ensuring their participation, HBCUs might face challenges in competing with larger universities for federal research grants and educational contracts.

Students of HBCUs, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, were indirectly affected by the revocation. With decreased capacity to secure federal funds and reduced focus on HBCU-specific programs, the students attending these institutions potentially faced a reduction in quality educational resources and support systems that directly enhanced their academic experience and professional readiness.

Furthermore, the revocation carried implications for industries and local economies intertwined with HBCUs' educational missions. Communities relying on HBCUs for not only educational but also economic vitality could have experienced setbacks. With potentially less federal support for programmatic and infrastructural development, the role of HBCUs as engines of regional economic growth could have been diminished, affecting jobs and local business opportunities directly linked to these institutions.