News

Surge in Economic Dropouts Spurs UNCF Into Emergency Mode

by Reginald Stuart , April 9, 2009

Categories:

The glaring message atop the Web site says it all: “The recession is hitting UNCF college seniors hard. Hundreds may not graduate this spring.”

 

“Your contribution can make sure they graduate.”

 

The urgent appeal from the UNCF (United Negro College Fund), the usually low-key, venerable fundraising machine for 39 of the nation’s private, historically Black colleges and universities, is another example of how the nation's economic troubles are impacting colleges and their students across the nation.

 

The UNCF is trying to raise $5 million in quick order to help stem the surge in economic dropouts from member schools as the nation’s economic slump compounds the financial woes of poor minority households and is rapidly reaching deep into middle and higher income homes.

 

“This is across the board,” says Michael Lomax, president and CEO of the UNCF, explaining that students at large and small, rural and urban schools are being hit hard by the nation’s weak economy. “Family members have become unemployed,” Lomax says. “They (students) have lost their part-time jobs. These are kids who are doing everything right.”

1 | 2 | 3
Comments posted here may be reprinted in Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine, and may be edited for purposes of clarity and/or space.



Story Tools

Print Print
Text Size Smaller | Larger
Email
Share

Related Stories

Popular Topics


FEATURED jobs
Full Time, Tenure Track Faculty
North Seattle Community College

North Seattle Community College (NSCC) is seeking dynamic and collaborative individuals for Faculty positions in Business, Physics, and Visual Arts. These tenure-track positions will be generalists able to prepare and teach courses in their related field.


Enterprise Application Services Business Analyst
Ithaca College

The department of Enterprise Application Services within Ithaca College's Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) invites applications for a Business Analyst position to collaborate with departments across campus to identify, define and document business requirements as part of Enterprise Application Services (EAS)...


Business and Economics Librarian
Cornell University

Requires: Familiarity with software and tools for information management. Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills. Must enjoy providing services to a diverse audience. Demonstrated initiative and flexibility, and ability to work independently and collaboratively.


Chief Information Officer
State University of New York

The State University of New York (SUNY), the nation s largest and most comprehensive system of public higher education, seeks a Chief Information Officer (CIO). This position is located in Albany, New York at the System Administration of the State University of New York.


Copyright 2012 © Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, a CMA publication.
Cox, Matthews, and Associates, Inc., 10520 Warwick Ave, Suite B-8, Fairfax, VA 22030