06
March
2002
|
18:00 PM
America/New_York

Kirwan appointed to advisory board on black colleges, universities

COLUMBUS -- William E. Kirwan, president of The Ohio State University, was recently appointed by President George W. Bush to serve on the Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The advisory board will help to identify ways to strengthen the role of historically black colleges and universities and to provide quality educational opportunities for minority and disadvantaged students.

Kirwan said he looks forward to working with members of the board to address issues affecting these important institutions.

"The historically black colleges and universities are vitally important to the role of higher education in this nation," Kirwan said. "I am most pleased to work with the board's members to devise strategies to improve these colleges and universities."

Kirwan joins 20 other professionals on the board, which includes representatives of historically black colleges and universities, other institutions in higher education, business and financial institutions, and private foundations.

The board of advisors will:

  • advise the U.S. secretary of education on the progress in closing the achievement and attainment gaps between African Americans and other groups of students;
  • issue an annual report to the president on the participation of historically black colleges and universities in federal programs;
  • recommend ways to increase the federal role in strengthening the academic programs and resources of historically black colleges and universities, and to report the findings to the president.
In accordance with this appointment, Bush signed an executive order on Tuesday that pledged to increase funding for historically black colleges and universities, and historically black graduate institutions, by 30 percent between 2001 and 2005. The Bush administration?s proposed budget for fiscal year 2003 calls for a 3.6 percent increase in funding for both historically black colleges and universities and historically black graduate institutions, to $213.4 million and $50.8 million, respectively.

Mac Stewart, Ohio State's vice provost for Minority Affairs, believes Kirwan will be an asset to the advisory board.

"I think President Kirwan brings a wide range of experience that should prove beneficial in assisting the board members to achieve these goals," Stewart said. "Dr. Kirwan's passion for diversity and his record at Maryland and Ohio State should serve him well in this role."

Stewart said he hopes Kirwan's position on the advisory board will help to strengthen Ohio State?s ongoing relationship with historically black colleges and universities.

"For the past several years, we have worked with many of these institutions to recruit top-notch graduate students to Ohio State," Stewart said. "I think his appointment to the board will serve to further this relationship."