Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Three Case Studies of Experiences in Community Development Vol. 1

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) contracted with Optimal
Solutions Group LLC (Optimal) to develop three in-depth case studies that examined selected
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) participating in the HUD HBCU grant
program. These case studies were to discuss the local community development context of the
area, the HBCU’s history of participation in the grant program and other community
development activities, the creation and integration of grant activities over time, and the specific
operationalization of a single HUD HBCU grant (the subject grant) awarded between 1999 and
2005.
The results of this research are presented in a two-volume report. Volume Isummarizes
the successful strategies and lessons learned from the three HUD HBCU grant recipients studied
and the grant program in general. Volume IIcontains the full in-depth case studies of Benedict
College, LeMoyne-Owen College, and Texas Southern University.