The Award is given by UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building Program in celebration of an HBCU that achieved next-level performance
Columbia, SC—August 5, 2024, The 2024 UNITE: UNCF Summit for Black Education recently held in Atlanta, GA included more than 75 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The conference was the largest and most impactful Summit to date according to Ed Smith-Lewis, UNCF’s Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnership and Institutional Programs and leader of its Institute for Capacity Building.
During the five-day Conference, UNCF recognized Benedict College with the 2024 UNCF Institutional Excellence Award, for achieving next-level performance.
“It is an honor to receive UNCF’s most prestigious award” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. “We, at Benedict College, have executed strategies to make us a more resilient and thriving institution and we are committed to adapting processes to meet the needs of today’s learners. This recognition affirms the collective efforts of the Benedict College Trustees, Staff, and Faculty. Teamwork really does make the dream work!”
Smith-Lewis noted that “the country is at a pivotal crossroads, with America’s future on the line. It is exhilarating to see the crucial role HBCUs play as engines of transformation in our society.”
Benedict College is also taking bold steps towards redefining the student experience from enrollment to graduation. “We are laser focused on transformation and have dedicated countless hours streamlining access and enrollment processes, implementing integrated support systems to expedite student progression, enhancing advising and support services, developing a strategic agenda centered on student success, optimizing resource allocation to align with institutional goals, and revising policies and procedures to improve outcomes and close equity gaps,” said Dr. Verna Orr, Transformation Officer. “Our positive outcomes have major implications for the HBCU community writ large and can be scaled with some consistency and institution specific customization”.
“The nation’s attention is rightfully on HBCUs,” stated, Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO, UNCF said recently. “Our community has achieved remarkable progress in recent years, but the potential for greater impact lies ahead. We eagerly anticipate engaging a wide cross-section of national leaders to explore how HBCU will shape the era of American life.”
Photo caption: Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College accepts the 2024 UNCF Institutional Excellence Award during the 2024 UNITE: UNCF Summit for Black Education in Atlanta, Georgia.
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About Benedict College (www.benedict.edu)
Founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution offering 26 competitive baccalaureate degree programs and two master’s degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from all 46 counties in South Carolina, 30 states across America, and 26 countries around the world. The College also has a diverse faculty deeply engaged in teaching, research, and service.
Benedict College has been highly regarded and exceptionally ranked for its programs by several academic and traditional publications. Benedict College received the 2019 ACE/ Fidelity Investments Awards for Institutional Transformation and was named the HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest. Benedict College was listed among the top half of ranked HBCUs in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges by US News and World Report.
Benedict College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Five of the College’s degree programs hold national accreditation: Social Work Program, Environmental Health Science Program, Environmental Engineering, Studio Art, and the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
