The University is in the process of establishing separate initiatives to promote diversity and stronger ties with local historically black colleges and universities.
Gertrude Fraser, vice provost for faculty advancement, has been spearheading the effort. Over the past year, the University has collaborated with five specific historically black colleges: Hampton University, Virginia Union University, Virginia State University, Norfolk State University and St. Paul's College.
"The schools that we have visited are excited about the potential of establishing sustained initiatives with the University," Fraser said.
Fraser said she sees the collaborative arrangements with the schools as mutually beneficial.
Proposals under consideration would allow students currently attending historically black colleges and universities the opportunity to participate in cross-disciplinary studies over the summer.
"The idea is to provide opportunities for students to be involved in research projects so that they begin to understand and work up an academic experience," Fraser said. "The important mechanism is to get the students immersed in research."
Students from the schools would also be allowed to explore some of the University's graduate programs, many of which are not offered at their campuses.
Also under consideration is the concurrent enrollment of University students in certain programs at the historically black colleges and universities. Fraser said that many faculty members have already started developing programs of their own.
Some faculty members have already begun working to establish exchange programs, Fraser added.
Both the University and historically black colleges are interested in using the collaboration to promote diversity on their campuses.
"We want to have an impact on the number of minority students [going] into graduate programs, encouraging them to think about grad school at U.Va.," Fraser said.
Student groups are also working to broaden their involvement with historically black colleges. Second-year College student Whitney Wilcher, president of the University chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants, said that the NABA has consistently worked with chapters at other schools for business and networking purposes. The group has also made efforts to collaborate more with local historically black colleges and Universities.
"I strongly believe that this is a great initiative," Wilcher said. "Having frequented a number of [historically black campuses], I have recognized a strained relationship between the University and those schools."
Fraser said the most crucial feature determining the success of the initiatives is active involvement.
"Unless it's owned by faculty and students, these kind of initiatives will die out."
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