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HBCU

American  

abbreviation

  1. historically Black college or university: any institution of higher education that was established prior to 1964 and whose principal mission was and still is the education of Black Americans.


Usage

What is HBCU? HBCU stands for historically black colleges and universities, which were established before the landmark Civil Rights Act in 1964 and with the ongoing mission of educating Black Americans.How is term pronounced?[ eych-bee-see-yoo ]

Etymology

Origin of HBCU

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He began coaching just this season, serving as running backs coach at Colorado under Deion Sanders — another coach who cut his teeth at an HBCU, Jackson State.

From Los Angeles Times

Jennings recounted parts of Harris’ biography — how she was born and raised in California, attended an HBCU, and served as both a senator and vice president.

From Los Angeles Times

Because the school was founded in 1966 — the 1965 Higher Education Act defines HBCUs as “any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964” — the university does not have official federal designation as an HBCU.

From Los Angeles Times

“From an HBCU, I can get that one-on-one with professors and peers,” Dennis-Plesant, 16, told The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

“HBCU bands, it represents a lot of things,” said Simmons, who at 31 is the youngest band director ever at Texas Southern and is decades younger than most everyone else in his position at an HBCU.

From Seattle Times