Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Initiative

The Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Initiative is an initiative of the Office of Health Equity and Minority Health stemming from the health disparities HBCU college students faced during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It was created to ensure that HBCUs receive the same quality of health services and resources as other colleges and universities and to achieve health equity for their students and faculty. Project Coordinator Jasmine Poole manages the HBCU Initiative and is now partnered with 6 of the 14 HBCUs In Alabama. Those schools are:

• Talladega College
• Shelton State Community College
• Stillman College
• Miles College
• Alabama State University
• Trenholm State Community College

Through the HBCU Initiative, Poole has created the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) for partnered schools. The SHAC is a membership-oriented program that allows students to be ambassadors for their campus and to express their health needs and concerns for themselves and their fellow students. SHAC aims to enhance the well-being of college students.

Partnered schools are given needs assessments to assess the health concerns and needed resources students are asking for directly. Using the information from the needs assessments and the input from the SHAC members, Poole is able to bring the requested resources directly to those campuses through seminars, health fairs, and engaging and informative events. There has also been training for students and faculty in mental health, first aid, and health literacy.