Health Behaviors of Students Attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Results From the National College Health Risk Behavior Survey

Objective: We investigated racial differences in overweight and obesity among 4 subgroups: (1) Whites at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs); (2) Whites at non-HBCUs; (3) Blacks at HBCUs; and (4) Blacks at non-HBCUs. Methods: We conducted multivariable logistic regression using cross-sectional data to examine correlates of overweight or obesity by race and school type among white and black students (N = 260,719) who completed the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment IIb from fall 2011 to spring 2015. Results: Among men, more Whites at HBCUs than Whites at non-HBCUs (22.22% vs 9.67%; p < .001) and more Blacks at HBCUs than Blacks at non-HBCUs (27.84% vs 16.64%; p < .001) had obesity. Among women, more Whites at HBCUs than Whites at non-HBCUs (25.82% vs 8.80%; p < .001) and more Blacks at HBCUs than Blacks at non-HBCUs (27.62% vs 20.58%; p < .001) had obesity. Overall, highest adjusted odds ratios for overweight and obesity were observed for Blacks at HBCUs (p < .001). Conclusions: Findings suggest the need for implementation of aggressive overweight and obesity prevention strategies for students at HBCUs. Additional research is needed to understand determinants of overweight and obesity among students at HBCUs.

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Examining the perceptions of unsuccessful leadership practices for presidents at historically Black colleges and universities.

Journal of Diversity in Higher Education ◽

10.1037/dhe0000120 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 254-263

Author(s):

Robert T. Palmer ◽

Sydney Freeman

Keyword(s):

Historically Black ◽

Leadership Practices ◽

Black Colleges ◽

Colleges And Universities ◽

Historically Black Colleges ◽

Black Colleges And Universities

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Opportunities and Challenges at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

10.1057/9781137480415 ◽

2014 ◽

Keyword(s):

Historically Black ◽

Black Colleges ◽

Colleges And Universities ◽

Historically Black Colleges ◽

Black Colleges And Universities

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Examining Disparities in Food Access Between Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Non-Historically Black Colleges and Universities

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.1177/08901171211024412 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089011712110244

Author(s):

Mariah Kornbluh ◽

Shirelle Hallum ◽

Marilyn Wende ◽

Joseph Ray ◽

Zachary Herrnstadt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Historically Black ◽

Food Access ◽

The United States ◽

Black Colleges ◽

Colleges And Universities ◽

Historically Black Colleges ◽

Census Tracts ◽

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status ◽

Black Colleges And Universities

Purpose: Examine if Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are more likely to be located in low food access area (LFA) census tracts compared to public non-HBCUs. Design: ArcGIS Pro was utilized to capture food environments and census tract sociodemographic data. Setting: The sample included 98 HBCUs and 777 public non-HBCUs within the United States. 28.9% of study census tracts were classified as LFA tracts. Measures: University data were gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics. Census tract-level LFA classification was informed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Access Research Atlas. Covariates included population density and neighborhood socioeconomic status of census tracts containing subject universities. Analysis: Multilevel logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between university type and LFA classification. Results: A higher percentage of HBCUs (46.9%) than public non-HBCUs (26.6%) were located in LFAs. After adjusting for population density and neighborhood socioeconomic status, university type was significantly associated with food access classification (B=0.71;p=.0036). The odds of an HBCU being located in LFA tracts were 104% greater than for a public non-HBCU (OR=2.04;95% CI=1.26,3.29). Conclusion: Findings underscore the need for policy interventions tailored to HBCU students to promote food security, environmental justice, and public health.

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