A Rich History

Texas HBCUs continue their mission of educating African-American students, while at the same time responding to the state’s changing demographics.

Huston-Tillotson University describes itself as a multicultural, multiethnic and multifaith institution,” but its historically Black university status “is still the core of our mission. That is what we will remain,” says university spokeswoman Linda Jackson.

The student body at the small college turned university is about 73 percent Black, but the Hispanic numbers are climbing. According to Jackson, a dedicated Hispanic student recruiter is in place, and Hispanic representation on campus has grown from 7 percent to 13 percent.

Jackson says students are drawn to HTU because of its small college feel and urban Austin location. But the school is growing. It transitioned from a college to a university in 2005, and its 10-year strategic plan includes expanding enrollment from its current 742 students to at least 1,200.

The university, affiliated with both the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ, has hired a national advertising agency for the first time in its 132-year history. And HTU’s new tag line now invites everyone to “Learn More!”

A large part of that learning, Jackson says, comes courtesy of the university’s cutting-edge technology.

“We consider ourselves one of the most wired HBCUs in Texas,” she says, pointing out that today’s students expect nothing less.
HTU is one of a handful of universities in the world using the Thunder Virtual Flip Chart, a large digital screen positioned in the front of a specially designed classroom. These new high-tech classrooms are outfitted with four projectors and a speaker system that can link the university with students and faculty at other institutions, including several Texas HBCUs.