Contact: Thonnia Lee, Office of Strategic Communications
Written By Dr. Mark A. Brown, President and CEO
A gas leak. Cold showers. A cookout for lunch all in January for the first day of school. And still, Tuskegee students pressed on.
Recent reports estimate that HBCUs face more than $2 billion in deferred maintenance needs, with some campuses carrying decades-old infrastructure challenges. For 1890 Land-Grant Universities, this backlog is particularly acute. This includes my beloved Mother Tuskegee. These issues are not optional fixes—they are tied to federal and state obligations that must be addressed to ensure safe, functional learning environments.
To put this in perspective:
- The average HBCU endowment is around $15 million, while many Ivy League institutions exceed $10 billion. That is $1 at the HBCU for almost $700 at the Ivy League school
- This disparity means HBCUs operate on razor-thin margins, leaving little room for long-term investment in facilities and infrastructure.
At Tuskegee University, a recent natural gas leak highlighted this reality. A cold shower in January and a cookout for lunch may be too much to ask—but not more than we are willing to do. Persistence and resilience are in the DNA of our students, faculty, and the many partners who rally to support what we believe in and what our ancestors left us.
Our students, Spire Gas, Frank Lee, Director of Public Safety, and campus leaders—including Lead Engineer Dr. Brandon Toliver, Special Assistant to the President, Office of Facilities and Construction, and Dr. Rolundus Rice, Vice President of Student Affairs and Chief Operating Officer, worked tirelessly to restore basic life necessities so students could continue their education without interruption. The photo above was taken in our cafeteria after a herculean effort by SodexoMagic, who ensured hot meals were available during the crisis. It reflects what makes HBCUs extraordinary: resilience, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to student success.
National and state investment in HBCUs is well spent. Why? Because HBCUs produce:
- 80% of Black judges
- 50% of Black lawyers
- 50% of Black doctors
- 75% of Black veterinarians
- Over 40% of Black engineers
- Countless Black military generals and leaders
As a nation, we must fix the physical infrastructure of our HBCUs. These institutions are not just schools—they are pipelines of talent, leadership, and innovation.
Funding deferred maintenance at HBCUs is not just an institutional need—it is a national imperative.
Honoring our Past..Investing in our Future..#theTuskegeeWay!
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