Within the American cultural imagination, with a few notable exceptions, private historically Black colleges and universities have rarely occupied their deserved status among this nation’s colleges and universities. Founded in the 19^th century and maturing in the 20^th century, these institutions have played an integral role in the development of this nation and the collective achievement of African-Americans. They have done so while operating with limited resources, discriminatory public policies and the restrictive label of “developing institutions.”

During the period of de jure and de facto segregation, private HBCUs thrived as the only higher educational choice of college-bound African-American students, as well as the only workplace options for talented minority faculty and administrators. Changing social and cultural dynamics, however, have occasioned a re-imagination of the enormous potential of HBCUs in the face of the challenges and opportunities of the 21^st century. Despite an ever-present cacophonous chorus of naysayers, HBCUs remain the colleges of choice for many African-American students, and increasingly other minority students as well. These students will expect and demand the same innovative academic programs, well-trained faculty, state-of-the-art facilities and the organizational efficiency that are evidenced at most majority institutions. For private HBCUs, this presents an opportunity for institutional transformation and renewal.

There is an excitement and enthusiasm at many private HBCUs, as a sense of hope and possibility has replaced dire predictions of extinction and rendered absurd the persistent questions of relevance and purpose. A willingness of some campus leaders to examine the challenges and opportunities that await their institutions has resulted in the adoption of capacity building as an important activity for institutional ascendancy. The result of this focus on capacity building has profound implications for the future of private HBCUs and the potential to shape the discourse on the higher education of African-Americans. Additionally, the lessons learned have applications beyond this specific community of colleges and universities. Every college or university can benefit from an activity aimed at building, strengthening, redefining and sustaining institutional capacity.