This report is about changes in the size of that gap, beginning with the first signs of a narrowing that occurred at the start of the last century, and continuing on to the end of the first decade of the present century. In the decades since the late 1980s, in which there has been no clear trend in the gap, or sustained period of change in the gap, one way or another.

Researchers Paul E. Barton and Richard J. Coley found no clear culprit behind the persistent achievement gap but in the report, “The Black-White Achievement Gap: When the Progress Stopped,” point to “a wide and sticky web of conditions that are holding back progress.” The report offers no recommendations, noting that solutions to these formidable challenges will have to come from Black communities.

Doctor, educator and philanthropist James “Butch” Rosser, a professor of clinical surgery at Morehouse School of Medicine, now has another title to add to his already distinguished career: president of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS), the largest society of its kind in North America. Rosser is the first African-American to be named president of the society, and will be inducted at SLS’s annual meeting on September 4th.

Employees at Hinds Community College, in their second year of achieving big savings with energy efficient habits, are earning national recognition. Hinds CC has achieved a 21 percent cost savings totaling $1,388,010 in 15 months since forming a strategic alliance with Energy Education, a national energy conservation company. A primary benefit of the Energy Education program is that all costs come out of the existing utility budget with savings projected to more than pay for the program, as they

Faculty from Jackson State University and Penn State University have selected 16 JSU students to receive a $5,500 award through the Future Geoscientists for a Sustainable Earth Environment (FGSEE) scholarship program. Funding for the scholarships, which total $88,000, comes from the National Science Foundation's Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences program, which seeks to increase the number of African Americans and other minorities in geoscience careers.

A recent highlight of St. Philip’s College’s exchange project with educators in Brazil occurred when several Brazilian educators visited the college’s two campuses as guests of St. Philip’s College President Dr. Adena Williams Loston, her leadership team, and several students this summer.

A grant from the National Science Foundation will allow ASU's Department of Biological Sciences to acquire a powerful piece of research equipment known as the Roche/454 genome sequencer. The Roche/454 genome sequencer is essential for conducting next generation sequencing technology research at ASU. Through the sequencer, students and faculty will be able to conduct research in physical chemistry, nanotechnology, microbial ecology and other scientific areas.

In recent years, rural community colleges have done significantly better than their urban and suburban counterparts in the percentage increase of associate degrees awarded to women and minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

President Barack Obama delivered his speech commemorating the fifth anniversity of Hurricane Katrina's devasting impact on New Orleans at Xavier University

Virginia State University’s Reginald F. Lewis School of Business has announced a textbook licensing agreement with Flat World Knowledge, a leading publisher of commercial, openly-licensed college textbooks, as part of a broad initiative to deliver an integrated core business curriculum to students in a digital format that’s cost-effective, environmentally sustainable and attuned to the demands of an increasingly mobile generation.

The ExxonMobil Foundation recently provided Tuskegee University with a grant check in the amount of $62,625. The gift represents the company's three-to-one match of donations made to the University by ExxonMobil employees, retirees and surviving spouses under the Foundation's 2010 Educational Matching Gift Program.

Dr. Kuldeep Rawat, an associate professor of technology at ECSU, is the winner of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Technology Award for Faculty Innovation in Education. According to the TMCF committee, Rawat’s proposal, “Enhancing Minority Exposure to the 21st Century Learning through Remote Computing Infrastructure,” presented an innovative approach to the geographic and demographic issues that are prevalent to his respective college campus and are aligned with the goals of the program.

The U.S. Dept. of Education's annual study of college enrollments, prices and degrees awarded, includes data on the number of students who enrolled in various types of postsecondary institutions throughout the 2008-9 academic year. The statistics show that for-profit colleges enrolled a total of 3.2 million students, 11.8 percent of the nearly 27.4 million students who studied at all institutions that year.

The surge of immigrant entrepreneurs impacting Middle Tennessee has spawned the idea of forming a coalition to promote the interests of foreign-born business owners. The Office of International Business Programs (OIBP) in the TSU College of Business has been involved in organizing the Nashville International Council for Entrepreneurs (NICE) together with representatives of immigrant-based chambers of commerce and other community organizations.

A group of AAMU faculty took part in a faculty and student exchange program with Nanjing Forestry University. Funded by the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) International Science and Education Program, the three-year project is designed to strengthen AAMU's ability to develop globally competent students and faculty through collaborative partnerships higher education institutions and research organizations in China.

Alabama A&M University physicists are among world class scientists whose extensive research and contributions are part of a massive book symbolic of 'the bible' to the field of crystal growth and its enthusiasts.

Morgan President Earl S. Richardson and Army Major General Nickolas Justice today signed Maryland's first CRADA agreement in public education. The CRADA, a cooperative research and development agreement, will create a research partnership linking Morgan's research capabilities with Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC). Note: The DLL apologizes for missing this important May 2010 announcement.

Middle school student organizes church walk-a-thon to benefit Cardiovascular Research. Chalyse Ford has big dreams of someday becoming a professional dancer. Just 12 years old, the College Park resident has already accomplished more than many adults. A 7th grader at Hapeville Charter School, Chalyse Ford is a dancer, walker, and yes, a philanthropist. Lately, she has focused a lot of time on walking for a good cause--to raise funds to support cardiovascular research at Morehouse School of Medi

Professional athletes, biomedical researchers and community members will be joining a forum on Wednesday, August 25 at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta to discuss the growing epidemic of dementia in America. It is part of an overall discussion of mental health issues and associated stigmas that can prevent proper recognition and care of these challenges. -- Note: Although the DLL missed this event, it is still important that our readers be aware of these issues.

North Carolina Central University students can gain management experience in the field of home health care for the elderly, thanks to a $100,000 gift to the university. Innovative Senior Care Home Health of Durham made the contribution this month. Proceeds from the gift are to go specifically to the university’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences to provide paid internships for students interested in home health and elder care.

Morehouse School of Medicine and Iverson Genetic Diagnostics two-year (2) study will assess the impact of genetic information in calculating doses and the changes in the rate of adverse events when initiating Warfarin drug therapy. These changes will be compared against doses initiated without genetic data.

Lincoln University’s Student Support Services (SSS) program has recently been awarded a federal grant to assist students in achieving success over the course of their college career. The five-year, $1.7 million Department of Education grant will be used to further the mission of SSS, which is to provide academic and other support services to low-income, first generation and/or disabled students.

Port Discover, co-sponsored by Elizabeth City State U., has launched "Ask Port Discover," a blog designed to provide curious children with a place to pose science questions to working scientists. Port Discover was established to enhance the public's understanding and enjoyment of science through engaging programs, activities, and exhibits.

Edward Waters College was awarded a $238,000 grant from the Department of Education to fund Student Support Services beginning September 1, 2010. The grant is designed to provide resources to assist low-income, first-generation college students that need developmental support to expand and hone the skills necessary to complete a four-year degree.

Dillard University has partnered with the Louisiana Recovery School District to develop an innovative new teacher training program that they believe will revolutionize teacher education in New Orleans and, perhaps, serve as a model for programs across the country

U.S. Sen. Thomas R. Carper joined DSU President Harry L. Williams on campus Aug. 17 in celebrating a $400,000 USDA grant to the University’s Cooperative Extension to provide outreach assistance to underserved farmers in Delaware. Delaware State University is one of 40 institutions to be awarded a competitive USDA grant to provide outreach assistance to social disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

The Pickering Fellowship, which is awarded annually by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, will pay for Ms. Tiffany Miller's graduate school expenses. In addition, she will participate in two summer internships – one at the U.S. Department of State and another abroad – over the next two years.

A coordinated effort to promote understanding of, and respect for, multiculturalism at Bluefield State College received a very timely expression of support recently. The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) announced its decision to award a $9,000 Social Justice Initiatives grant to the College.

The SC State Board of Trustees gave final approval in February 2010 for the implementation of an Honors College, to become effective beginning in the 2010-2011 academic year. The Honors College is comprised of more than 250 scholars who hail from across the United States and several international countries. “As members of the Honors College, our students will also be exposed to new avenues in research, leadership and character development, graduate school and career preparation, service learning

Hinds Community College on Tuesday enrolled 13,000 credit students for the first time in history, a 10.9 percent increase over this time last year. Classes started Monday; late registration ends on Friday.

Fort Valley State University’s enrollment has skyrocketed to the largest number in the institution’s 115 year history. With the start of classes this week, Wildcat country is bursting with energy and vitality as 4,086 new students, largely from Middle Georgia, South Georgia and Atlanta, settle into their new home for the next four years.

Spelman College has recently become a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education to further campus efforts toward building a healthy and just world. Through membership in AASHE, Spelman will receive support in advancing its sustainability initiatives throughout the institution and in the community.

On June 7, 2010, senior biology majors Ronda Munnerlyn, Rosie McCormick and alumnus Chadester Cain, embarked on a significant research experiment which would prove to test their level of quietude. Having to be completely relaxed, yet alert, the students were able to control the movement of a robot while only using their brain signals.

The U.S. Department of Education’s School Leadership Program has awarded Hampton University a $322,489 grant for five years, totaling $2.69 million in support of the HU Leadership Academy (HULA). U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the grant. Through the grant, HU will partner with area schools to implement a multifaceted approach towards improving student achievement by improving the effectiveness of educational leadership.

The CUIAA makes a donation to Claflin at the beginning of each school year to support the University’s campus activities. This year the funds will be distributed among scholarships, freshman orientation, the Pre-Alumni Council, the Founders’ Day Celebration and the FOCUS 100 student fund.

The Student Support Services (SSS) program at Bluefield State College will receive federal funding for a five-year cycle, beginning September 1, 2010. Carolyn Kirby, SSS Interim Director at BSC, recently received official notification of the grant renewal from the U.S. Department of Education. Grant funding for next fiscal year will exceed $368,000, permitting BSC to continue to offer educational assistance to economically disadvantaged and/or first-generation college students, and students with

Virginia Union University(VUU) was recently award two grants. The U.S. Department of Interior National Park Service has given the University $150,000 from the Historic Preservation Fund for the Save America’s Treasures Grant Program. The grant is to assist with the preservation of the Belgian Friendship Building.

Philander Smith College announced today its first major gift toward its social justice initiative, a $1.2 million grant from The Kresge Foundation to help establish the Center for Social Justice on the campus of the private, historically black institution. The award includes a $300,000 challenge grant. Kresge’s multi-year support will help fund the hiring of key staff that will oversee the college’s social justice initiative.

Evelyn Bush promised herself more than 60 years ago that she would graduate from college. Her time has finally come. The 79-year-old early childhood education major will be among 360 Jackson State students to receive degrees at the university’s summer commencement ceremony today (8/7/10).

Twenty-three participants from five counties--Currituck, Gates, Halifax, Pasquotank, Perquimans—came to ECSU for a two-day professional development session in Reading Strategies for K-2 teachers. The two day training was based on the work of Valerie Ellery, an international reading consultant and curriculum specialist. Each participant received with ready to use materials and strategies packet. They also received 2 CEUs, a certificate for completion and Valerie Ellery's book, "Creating Strategi