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Historical Overview

Group audience with President Carter

August 8, 1980–President Jimmy Carter holds signing ceremony establishing White House Initiative on HBCUs.
Photo Courtesy: Meldon Hollis, former executive director, Carter Administration

Updated 5/19/2021

On August 8, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed Executive Order 12232, which directed the Secretary of Education to “implement a Federal initiative designed to achieve a significant increase in the participation by historically Black colleges and universities in Federally sponsored programs.” The order specified that “… initiative shall seek to identify, reduce, and eliminate barriers which may have unfairly resulted in reduced participation in, and reduced benefits from, Federally sponsored programs.”

On September 15, 1981, President Reagan, under Executive Order 12320, reestablished the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which expanded the previous program and set into motion a government wide effort to strengthen our nation’s HBCUs.

On April 28, 1989, President George H.W. Bush signed Executive Order 12677, reestablished the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, directing among other things, “The Director of the Office of Personnel Management, in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor, shall develop a program to improve recruitment and participation of graduates and undergraduate students of historically Black colleges and universities in part-time and summer positions in the Federal Government.”

On November 1, 1993, President William Jefferson Clinton signed Executive Order 12876. This executive order reestablished the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, required a senior level executive in each agency have oversight in implementing the order, and that the Office of Management and Budget be involved in monitoring implementation of the order.

On Feb. 12, 2002, President George W. Bush signed Executive Order 13256. This executive order reestablished the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and transferred the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities to the Office of the Secretary within the U.S. Department of Education. Previously, the White House Initiative was housed in the Department’s Office of Postsecondary Education.

On February 10, 2010, President Barack H. Obama signed Executive Order 13532.  This executive order renewed the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and demonstrated the President’s strong appreciation for the historic role these institutions have played in educating our citizens and the Administration’s commitment to assisting HBCUs with accomplishing their mission. This order maintained the Initiative be housed within the U.S. Department of Education.

On February 27, 2017, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13779.  This executive order reestablished the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and be housed in the Executive Office of the President and led by an Executive Director designated by the President.