Black History Month

Historically Black College or University (HBCU) are defined by the amended Higher Education Act of 1965 as: “… any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary [of Education] to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation.”

• Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (video 1:22:13)

List of HBCUs

• U.S. Department of Education
• The Hundred Seven

The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) was founded at Howard University on May 10, 1930, to promote “unanimity of thought and action as far as possible in the conduct of Greek letter collegiate fraternities and sororities, and to consider problems of mutual interest to its member organizations.” Its mission is to foster cooperative actions of its members in dealing with matters of mutual concern. Composed of nine fraternities and sororities, the collective group is known as the Divine Nine.

• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Cornell University, 1906
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Howard University, 1908
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Indiana University, 1911
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Howard University, 1911
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Howard University, 1913
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Howard University, 1914
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Howard University, 1920
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Butler University, 1922
• Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Morgan State University, 1963