[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 19, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 56459-56460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24176]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 182 / Tuesday, September 19, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 56459]]


                Proclamation 7339 of September 14, 2000

                
National Historically Black Colleges and 
                Universities Week, 2000

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Rooted in the segregated South of more than a century 
                ago, Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
                (HBCUs) for decades were the sole source of higher 
                education for African Americans. Generations of African 
                American educators, physicians, lawyers, scientists, 
                and other professionals found at HBCUs the knowledge, 
                experience, and encouragement they needed to reach 
                their full potential. Over the years, HBCUs have 
                compiled an enviable record of achievement, educating 
                almost forty percent of our Nation's black college 
                graduates. Today, building on that tradition of 
                excellence in education, HBCUs confer the majority of 
                bachelor's degrees and advanced degrees awarded to 
                black students in the physical sciences, mathematics, 
                computer science, engineering, and education.

                And HBCUs have accomplished this record in the face of 
                daunting challenges--including limited financial 
                resources and a relatively high percentage of 
                disadvantaged students--without resorting to high 
                tuition fees. The faculty and staff of HBCUs have 
                created a nurturing environment for their students, set 
                high academic standards and expectations, and served as 
                inspiring role models for the young people around them. 
                As a result, the dropout rate at HBCUs is much lower 
                than for African American students at other educational 
                institutions, and enrollment remains high.

                In addition to educating many of our Nation's most 
                distinguished African American professionals, HBCUs 
                reach out to improve the quality of life in surrounding 
                communities. Whether renovating housing, providing job 
                training, instituting Head Start and senior citizen 
                programs, mentoring elementary and high school 
                students, or teaching nutrition, the students and 
                faculty of HBCUs share their time, talents, and 
                educational resources to make a positive difference in 
                thousands of lives. Just as important, HBCUs serve as 
                living repositories of African American history and 
                heritage, preserving the words and artifacts of proud 
                generations of African Americans and reminding us of 
                the crucial part these men and women have played in the 
                history of our Nation.

                For well over a century, HBCUs have made their mark as 
                vital institutions of higher learning. They have 
                educated millions of young people, and today they 
                maintain their lead role in preparing African Americans 
                and students of all races for the challenges and 
                opportunities of this new century.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim September 17 through 
                September 23, 2000, as National Historically Black 
                Colleges and Universities Week. I call upon the people 
                of the United States, including government officials, 
                educators, and administrators, to observe this week 
                with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities 
                honoring America's Historically Black Colleges and 
                Universities and their graduates.

[[Page 56460]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 00-24176
Filed 9-18-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P