The "BLACK Ivy League" & Ayantee

[Jesse Jackson's Side eye]

This is more of a Two Part Question that i want to pose

Now, im sure that we have all heard of the so-called "Black Ivy League" HBCUs. Now for those that are unaware of what exactly im talking about

The Black Ivy League is a colloquial term that at times referred to the historically black colleges in the United States that attracted top African American students prior to the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Similar groups include: Public Ivies, Southern Ivies, and the Little Ivies, among others, none of which have canonical definitions.

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Ivy_League

The list is rather subjective and changes depending on your sources, but for those readers that are unaware those institutions are generally:

• Fisk University
  
• Morehouse College
  
• Spellman College
  
• Howard University
  
• Hampton University
  
• Dillard
  
• Tuskegee University
  

Morgan, Cheyney Lincoln (PA), Morris Brown, Clark Atlanta, Xavier and Claflin have also made the list at some point or another...

My question to you all is this: Do you feel that there is an upper echelon of HBCUs? and if so, what schools do you see as being within it...also just to relate it to A&T...where do you currently see our beloved Alma Mater? are we within that Upper Tier or somewhere else?

[Maxell]

Yes, there is an upper echelon. The list above is generally considered among them if not it.

Should we be on it? No. The upper tier in "Ivy League" terms must have a strong Liberal Arts program. We are more of a technical university. This upper tier must be able to produce doctors and lawyers in abundance. That's not what we do nor are we selective enough in our admissions to be considered in that discussion. Our mission is different. We are a public university.

What A&T has established is solid connection to industry in business, government and technical disciplines. This has caused us to expand our research capabilities and presence in those communities while garnering more research dollars than most schools in North Carolina. We have built a solid reputation of producing quality students and the business community takes note.

[90Aggie]

Jun 24, 2010 21:48:15 GMT -5 Jesse Jackson's Side eye said:

My question to you all is this: Do you feel that there is an upper echelon of HBCUs?

Yes

Jun 24, 2010 21:48:15 GMT -5 Jesse Jackson's Side eye said:

what schools do you see as being within it

• Morehouse College
  
• Spelman College
  
• Howard University
  
• Hampton University
  
• Tuskegee University
  

I've never really considered Fisk a top tier HBCU and Dillard isn't even on my radar.

Jun 24, 2010 21:48:15 GMT -5 Jesse Jackson's Side eye said:

where do you currently see our beloved Alma Mater? are we within that Upper Tier or somewhere else?

Somewhere else. Second tier.

[Freeze]

Pre 1960's list:

Morehouse
Spelman
Howard
Hampton
Atlanta University (now CAU)
Fisk
Tuskegee

Post 1960's list:

Morehouse
Spelman
Howard
Hampton (to a lesser extent)

Truthfully, the only HBCU's that have enjoyed a rich and CONSISTENT academic legacy are, Morehouse, Spelman, and Howard. As Maxell suggested, much of that can be attributed to their liberal arts background. Atlanta University used to be on that list but like most other HBCU's it has faced prodigious financial challenges. Truth be told...there are only a hand full of HBCU's that I would feel comfortable sending my son or daughter to. All HBCU's are not created equal...believe that.

[AggiePride]

Historically, the schools listed are considered the black ivy league. But Fisk has fallen off. I would probably add Xavier since they have a history of producing black doctors. I am not sure about Dillard. Tuskegee is included because of the ties to BTW, but Tuskegee at the core is technical and agricultural school.

Generally, there are a group of public HBCU's that are held in high regard: A&T (although our academic reputation took some hits during the Renick years), FAMU, Tennessee State, NCCU, PVAMU, AAMU. There are probably more schools that I am forgetting.
I left WSSU off on purpose.

[Freeze]

Now if there were a list of top flight business schools, and engineering programs among HBCU's...A&T would clearly be at the top of that list for engineering and pretty near the top for business. In my profession, I've had the opportunity to visit and conduct research at a number of HBCU's and I can truly say that A&T has made me proud everytime when comparing those institutions...especially on aesthetics. I haven't visited a SWAC school yet whose campus has impressed me. Many of them look pretty bad.

I just wished A&T infused more of their resources into their college of liberal arts. It's pretty decent now, but could be A LOT better.

[oleschoolaggie]

i personally see a&t as the "mit" of hbcu's. mit is just as highly respected as harvard except that its more so known for its research, sciences, engineering, and technical curriculums...

[Gator]

Damn...

It's easy! If you look at the definition then we belong on this list. All this other stuff people are throwing in is just their own additives to the definition.

[Maxell]

Gator, I looked at the definition. You need to read it again. Yeah we made the "see also" list but that's it. We might fall into a category comparable to "Black" Carnegie Mellon or MIT but even they are not in the Ivy League. Even that is a stretch because of our selectivity. If it was "difficult" to get into A&T then I would agree. Granted, it's not easy to get in, but it is not difficult. You can still get in with under 1000 on the SAT.

[ATLaggie]

I feel like if you didn't go to an actual Ivy League school then why would you go anywhere else but A&T. There is the Ivy Leagues and there is HBCU's, theres no intertwining the two.lol

The "Black Ivy League" is a n***a version of a class system. What do these so called Black Ivy League schools offer that another school can't. If you're a good student, or you market yourself well enough to get the job of your choice. Then the other stuff doesn't make a difference.

All of the schools originally listed are private school. Their endowment is dependent upon their students performance and then what, they go out and get the same jobs everybody else gets.

If you feed into this B/S then your the same person who thinks...WHITE IS RIGHT.lol

[aggiejazz]

In the 21st century, If you don't have a number of graduates -more than just one or two - making decisions in the grand buildings of the national capital, state houses and fortune 500 corporations then you are not ivy league.

[Deleted]

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=66335428520

[oleschoolaggie]

i personally think howard is the best academic hbcu in the country and i think they're head and shoulders above everybody else, including a&t...

[Blackfoot]

interesting viewpoints you all make. i would state that we are not within that "black ivy league". and honestly, its better that way. i say this because we've established our niche - like several of you have eluded to - within the technological, industrial and business sectors. and yes, we're a public university which means you probably won't see the same entry standards as these so called "ivy league-ers" - most of which are private. imho, to want to be classified as a "black" anything demonstrates an underlying inferiority complex. whether you're talking about being the "black bill gates", the "black barbie", or the "black ivy league"....its all the same to me - unacceptable in this day and age. we are a&t. and like my folks say...eso es lo que hay! (that's what it is!)

[Gator]

Oldschool,

Depending upon your reasoning for your opinion, I have to disagree.