The historically Black College in Jacksonville intends to introduce its first masters and add more undergraduate courses after recording a $3.5 million increment in funding. State and university executives have been pleased with the decision and said that the funds would offer the students extensive opportunities.
The first historically Black college in Florida, Edward Waters College, is anticipating to become a University. In a recent news conference, President A. Zachary Faison Jr., with Gov. Ron DeSantis, announced that the college’s donations exceeded their expectation. Edward Waters was awarded an additional $ 3.5 million in the 2020-2021 state legislative budget bringing the total donations to $6.4 million. “This is truly transformative,” Faison said. The college declared its intention to expand into a university level, with more undergraduate programs and the creation of a master’s degree in business management. Faison said that the funds would be used to support students with financial challenges. In his briefing, Faison said, “Many students who come to EWC do not drop out, they stop out, due to financial hardships and difficulties. This additional support will help lessen that unfortunate trend.”
Edward Waters College was initially established in 1866 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church to educate freed slaves together with their children. Since then, it has grown from a high school to a college, with first graduates in 1979. Currently, with the addition of a master’s program, Edward Waters can be a university. In a dialogue with WJXT TV-4, Faison said the college would be expanding its programs not only with graduate courses, but also undergraduate courses in social work, information science, computer, and forensic science and social work.
The governor publicized the budget at Bethune-Cookman University, a historically Black university in Daytona Beach. This University received an extra $13 million totaling $17 million of its funds in operation. A total of $123 million from the state budget was allocated to the entire historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), marking an increase of $19 million compared to last year’s donations. The most significant portion ($92.8 million) went to Tallahassee’s Florida A&M University, marking a $1.3 million increment. The other $7 million was allocated to Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, making an increment of $3.5 million.
“HBCUs play an important role in Florida’s educational fabric and continue to be trailblazers for innovation, talent, and leadership,” DeSantis said. “This funding will provide students additional opportunities and will continue to transform higher education in Florida, especially for Black students across the state to meet the demands of the 21st century.” Faison approved, remarking the fact that funding comes during the most difficult times. In the interview with WKMG-TV in Orlando, Sen. Randolph Bracy, a Jacksonville native, said “This is a commitment you don’t usually see for private historically black colleges,”
