arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Bush Creates Board For Black Colleges

Tuesday February 12, 2002 4:50 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush on Tuesday created a presidential advisory board for historically black colleges and universities.

The president signed an executive order establishing the board, which includes sitting presidents of the colleges, representatives of private foundations and other educational institutions, business and financial leaders and high school administrators.

Bush charged the panel with submitting an annual report with recommendations on advancing historically black schools in terms of academic performance, use of technology, financial planning and development, said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.

Bush signed the order before a gathering of black college officials in the East Room.

The president's budget plan for fiscal 2003 proposes about $264 million for historically black colleges, and $89 million for historically Hispanic schools. One of his campaign promises was to increase funding for these institutions by 30 percent between 2001, the year he took office, and 2005, the year his first term ends.