WASHINGTON, DC (May 1, 2019) - Howard University School of Business Dean Barron H. Harvey provided expert testimony on the value of public-private partnerships and historically Black colleges and universities at a congressional hearing on April 30.

The U.S. House Small Business Committee, chaired by Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), held the hearing, “Lost Opportunities? SBA’s Engagement with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.” The committee addressed a recent GAO report about whether the Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing adequate support for HBCUs in its outreach and direct engagement efforts to foster entrepreneurship. These efforts were mandated by President Trump’s Executive Order on HBCUs which called for greater collaboration between federal agencies like the SBA and the nation’s 101 HBCUs.

“Throughout history, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities have been a tremendous educational and economic resource to this nation and our communities," Harvey said. "Therefore, HBCUs provide a wonderful opportunity for strategic partnerships with the U.S. Small Business Administration to further impact the small-businesses, especially African-American entrepreneurs and small business owners who are the fastest growing segment of the small-business sector."

Harvey continued, "Currently, there are only two SBA Lead Small Business Development Centers at HBCUs, Howard University and the University of the Virgin Islands, out of a total of 63. Further, there are only 16 HBCUs who hosts SBDC Subcenters out of 900 educational and community organizations nationwide. Expanding SBA’s presence at HBCU’s will further aid the SBDC Network to have a much greater impact on minority small business owners, minority students who are future entrepreneurs, faculty and local communities.”

Other HBCU witnesses at the hearing were: Michael H. Casson, Jr., dean of the College of Business at Delaware State, Paulette Dillard, president of Shaw University, and Roslyn Clark Artis, president and chief executive of Benedict College.

“Our HBCUs are filled with thousands of some of the most creative, innovative and entrepreneurial young leaders in America,” said Harry L. Williams, president and chief executive of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.  “I am proud to see two distinguished HBCU deans providing the Congress with testimony highlighting the importance and value of SBA and all federal agencies looking to HBCUs for strategic partnerships.”

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund continues to work in a bipartisan fashion to ensure the country’s publicly-supported HBCUs and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) have a voice and have important opportunities like this hearing to share with our elected leaders. 

To view the hearing please click here (both HBCU deans are on the second panel), and to read all of the witness transcript testimony click here. 

Media contact: Sholnn Freeman, Office of University Communications, sholnn.freeman@howard.edu

ABOUT HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.  For more information on Howard University visit www.howard.edu