Within the WALLS OF HBCU s
BY DR. QUINTON T. ROSS, JR.
new and has been featured in printed publications as early as the 1960s. With regard to historically Black colleges and universities, Killen (1969) called for a “Communiversity” that would shape Black communities and would serve as bridges to educate people of color from the cradle to the grave. Today, as a global institution, we affirm that the university does not exist apart from the community but with it, for it, and because of it. Within the walls of HBCUs, education has never been transactional. It has always been transformational. CommUniversity makes that truth visible, accountable, and sustainable. As the 15th President of Alabama State University, I have witnessed firsthand what happens when academic excellence and community engagement are not parallel pursuits but deeply intertwined. CommUniversity positions the university as a living partner, one that listens just as much as it leads. It calls on faculty to connect teaching and research to real-world challenges, on students to see themselves as civic scholars, and on institutions to leverage
HBCUs were born out of necessity during a time when opportunity was denied, yet they evolved into institutions that did far more than educate—we uplifted communities, cultivated leaders, and anchored hope. Today, as HBCUs face a rapidly changing social, economic, and educational landscape, our mission must be both rooted in history and bold in imagination. Within the walls of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), something sacred has always lived. It is not confined to brick, mortar, or campus gates. It is a spirit of access, advocacy, excellence, and unapologetic service to society.
At Alabama State University, we have chosen to imagine boldly. I often tell my Leadership Team, "We've got to go to know" and one of my assistant vice presidents adds “and grow” to that philosophy. We must engage directly with our community to truly understand its needs. The Alabama State University Focus 2030 Strategic Plan is a forward- looking framework designed to position the university as a leader in teaching, research, and service providing lasting community impact. Not only is the institution focused and anchored in academic excellence and student success, central to this plan is the idea that ASU is not only an academic institution but also a community builder, committed to developing students as global change agents while creating meaningful societal impact. One of the key anchors of our strategic plan is CommUniversity. It is not a slogan. It is a philosophy, a framework, and a call to action. The term is not
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