Environmental Health Information Partnership (EnHIP): Strengthening the capacity of minority serving institutions

The U.S. National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) Environmental Health Information Partnership (EnHIP) collaborates with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving academic institutions to enhance their capacity to reduce health disparities through the access, use, and delivery of environmental health information on their campuses and in their communities. The partnership began in 1991 as the Toxicology Information Outreach Panel (TIOP) pilot project, and through successive iterations it is NLM’s longest running outreach activity. EnHIP’s continued relevance today as an information outreach and training program testifies to the prescience of NLM director, Donald A.B. Lindberg M.D’s initial support for the program. Dr. Lindberg’s seeing to its continued success to benefit participating institutions and help achieve the societal goals of environmental justice serve as well to benefit NLM by increasing its visibility, and use of its resources in the classroom, for research, and in community outreach. NLM envisions an expanding role for EnHIP in advancing health equity as the impact of environmental exposure, climate change, and increasing zoonotic diseases disproportionately impact their communities.

HBCUs Matter: A Review of Behavioral Health at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Nearly one-fourth of all undergraduate degrees received by Black students are from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). HBCUs have both historical significance and present-day relevance in the promotion of Black excellence in higher education, especially in the consideration of behavioral health. The purpose of this work is to examine the present state of research surrounding behavioral health within HBCUs. A scoping review was conducted of the EbscoHost database, yielding a total of 252 articles. A total of 39 articles met the inclusion criteria and were examined within this work. Six studies informed the prevalence of behavioral health issues on campus, while the remaining articles covered a broad range of research from psychological and physical wellbeing, sexual health, violence, identity, and ideology, and finally programs and policies. Gaps and future recommendations for research and practice are discussed.

Technological Advocacy and Crime Reporting in an HBCU Setting: Addressing the Prospect of Legal Cynicism in the Ebony Tower

In comparison to white students, the study of Black student attitudes toward crime reporting on college campuses is deficient, especially in historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Using approximately 100 completed student questionnaires, statistical results suggest that the majority of students express a willingness to report a campus-related crime to campus police. The highest reported explanation for refusing to report a crime is based upon the prospect of being labeled in a negative manner. The highest reported explanation for reporting a crime is based upon the receipt of a financial reward and anonymity. Bivariate calculations indicate that age, gender, and residential status are significantly associated with crime reporting decisions. Policy implications, areas of further research, and limitations are provided.

Strategies for Support: Black Women Faculty Career Advancement at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Although there is an abundance of scholarship about the challenges presented to Black women faculty at Predominantly White Institutions, the career advancement of Black women faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities has gone largely unnoticed. Considering Historically Black Colleges and Universities are where Black women faculty achieve tenure in the highest percentages, this study took a non-deficit perspective and investigated what supports are used by Black women faculty both internal to the institution and externally. The sites of this study were 43 HBCUs with 25% or more of tenured faculty comprised of Black women. Faculty rank and discipline were considered when comparing the survey data. Some supports include networks, family, religion, collaboration, and other strategies. This study provides a preliminary step in studying what supports Black women find most useful in navigating their faculty careers.