United States v. Fordice: Mississippi Higher Education Without Public Historically Black Colleges and Universities

The United States v. Fordice was decided in the United States Supreme Court in 1992, and it represents the most recent ruling on desegregation for those states that have historically maintained racially segregated systems of higher education. This study raises the question of what would Mississippi higher education be without public HBCUs? This study will examine the impact of the closure, merger, and mandated enrollment of public HBCUs in Mississippi. Specifically, it will examine the impact of the closures, mergers, and mandated integration of HBCUs in Mississippi on student access and selected student outcomes for African Americans. Time-series statistical modeling is used in this study to predict the participation and outcomes of African American students for Mississippi's current system of higher education with HBCUs. It also provides policy prescriptions to states that are seeking to dismantle the dual system of higher education.