Date of Conferral

3-11-2026

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

Ioan Ionas

Abstract

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are important to the educational landscape. The problem that was addressed through this study was the unique financial challenges that influence enrollment at HBCUs. Guided by the conceptual framework of transformational leadership, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore HBCU presidents’ perceptions about the unique financial challenges as well as recommendations on how to overcome these challenges that influence enrollment at their institutions. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five former and three current HBCU presidents who had been in their role for a minimum of 1 year. Using in vivo coding, the following five themes emerged: (1) address limited resources to create an immersive academic and campus environment to impact growth and operations, (2) resolve the lack of strategic operations – policies, procedures, and people management – that contributes to institutional ineffectiveness and inefficient strategic enrollment management, (3) develop innovative fundraising and recruitment strategies that will increase enrollment and student access, (4) invest in organizational capacity by improving human resources as well as optimizing internal and external operating environment, and (5) increase investments in core elements that makes a collegiate experience attractive to prospective students. The findings have potential implications for positive social change by providing HBCUs with a strategic framework to initiate conversations about how to stabilize institutional finances. If an immersive environment could indeed be created, Black students might thrive. These students graduate with the academic credentials to contribute to the global society, fuel the growth of the Black middle class, and create generational wealth for their families.

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