‘Deeds, not words’: Thank you, President Joe Biden, says DSU president

For more than three years, I’ve been fortunate to serve as chairman of President Joe Biden’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

After much reflection, I am resigning that position on Monday, full of gratitude for President Biden’s tremendous record of service, and proud of what we’ve accomplished together.

Here’s the truth: no president in U.S. history has done more to support HBCUs than Joe Biden.

While many have suggested they understand the importance of America’s HBCUs, the Biden/Harris administration’s actions can be summed up this way:

“Deeds; not words.”

Since their election in 2020, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have invested $20 billion in our country’s HBCUs.

That includes nearly $4 billion through the American Rescue Plan and other COVID relief legislation to help HBCUs support students’ ability to meet basic needs and maintain campus operations; $2.6 billion from the U.S. Department of Education to support the growth and sustainability of HBCU degree programs; more than $1.6 billion through federal grants, cooperative agreements, and other competitive funding opportunities to drive academic and training programs; and almost $950 million to support HBCUs in growing research capacity and infrastructure.

Biden and Harris made these investments because they understand the unmistakable value of America’s HBCUs.

Across the country — despite representing only a small fraction of higher education institutions — HBCUs educate twice as many students who are low-income and Pell eligible as non-HBCUs.

And they do so with incredible success.

In addition to generating nearly $16 billion in direct economic impact, HBCUs still produce 80% of Black judges, 25% of Black science professionals, 70% of Black dentists and physicians, and 40% of Black members of Congress. And the return-on-investment for HBCUs is not just financial. On every indicator of well-being, Black students attending HBCUs students fare better than similarly situated students at Predominantly White Institutions, or PWIs.

Biden’s decisions to invest in America’s HBCUs will have a significant impact on generations of students who attend these institutions, the faculty and staff who pour their whole hearts into providing HBCU educations, and the families who sacrifice so much in favor of boundless futures for their children.

We know Joe Biden in Delaware. So we’re not surprised by his commitment to service. But his work as president has been singular in its commitment, and will be forever remembered by a grateful set of American citizens who will continue to achieve in every field of human endeavor.

“Deeds; not words.”

In four years, Biden’s deeds are unprecedented: tangible artifacts — demonstrable symbols — of an incomparable legacy.

Tony Allen is president of Delaware State University and chairman emeritus of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware State University president thanks President Biden | Opinion