By: Maria-Paula

The Virginia General Assembly has officially launched a bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus, marking a
significant step toward strengthening support for the Commonwealth’s HBCUs through coordinated legislative action.

The newly formed caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative body dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of Virginia’s HBCUs, the students and the communities they serve.

Virginia is home to five public and private HBCUs that educate, employ and uplift communities across the Commonwealth. These institutions
produce a significant share of Virginia’s educators, healthcare professionals, public servants, and business leaders, while serving
students who may otherwise not have access to higher education.

It brings together lawmakers from both parties who share a commitment to advancing the interests of Virginia’s HBCUs namely, Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia Union University in Richmond, Hampton University in Hampton, and Norfolk State University in Norfolk. Collectively, these institutions educate tens of thousands of students and serve as major economic and cultural anchors in their regions.

According to caucus leaders, co-chaired by Senator Mamie Locke (D-23) and Delegate Alex Askew (D-95), the group will focus on advocating for equitable funding, expanding workforce development pipelines, supporting research and innovation, and ensuring student success through policies that address affordability, infrastructure, and access to opportunity.
The Caucus will serve as a centralized forum for education, collaboration, and coordinated legislative action focused on strengthening institutional sustainability and expanding student access and affordability across the Commonwealth.

“Virginia’s HBCUs are pillars of opportunity and engines of economic and social mobility,” said Senator Locke. “This caucus ensures that
we are taking a focused, bipartisan approach to addressing longstanding inequities while positioning these institutions and their students for long-term success.

“The creation of the Virginia HBCU Caucus reflects our shared commitment to continued investment, affordability and accessibility,”
said Delegate Askew. “By working collaboratively with institutional leaders, students, and stakeholders, we can advance meaningful policies that strengthen HBCUs and the communities they serve.

Members emphasized that the caucus is not only about education but also economic development. Virginia’s HBCUs contribute significantly to
local economies through job creation, partnerships with industry, and community-based programs. Lawmakers noted that strengthening these institutions aligns with state-wide goals around innovation, equity, and
global competitiveness.

“HBCUs have played a vital role in shaping Virginia’s workforce, leadership, and communities for generations. This caucus is about making sure our policies reflect the value these institutions bring to the Commonwealth and investing in their future in a bipartisan way,” said a founding member of the Caucus.

The caucus also aims to serve as a formal platform for collaboration with HBCU presidents, students, alumni, and community stakeholders.
Planned activities include policy briefings, campus visits, and joint initiatives with state agencies to better align resources with
institutional needs. “The bipartisan nature of this caucus sends a powerful message about the shared value of HBCUs in Virginia,” said Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston, president of Norfolk State University. “This collaboration will help
address the recognition of excellence provided by Virginian’s HBCUs while expanding opportunities for all our students and communities.

“For generations, Virginia’s HBCUs have been engines of upward mobility,” said Dr. Makola Abdullah, president of Virginia State University. “We applaud the General Assembly for creating a forum that recognizes our impact and commits to thoughtful, long-term solutions that support accessibility and affordability.”

“This caucus affirms what our alumni, students, and faculty and staff know – HBCUs matter to the future of Virginia,” said Dr. Hakim J. Lucas, president of Virginia Union University. “This partnership with legislators ensures both public and private HBCUs have the support they
need to continue expanding their reach and impact state-wide.”

Education advocates and HBCU leaders welcomed the announcement, calling
it a long-overdue recognition of the unique role HBCUs play in Virginia’s higher education landscape.

“The creation of this caucus sends a clear message that HBCUs matter,” said a representative of one Virginia HBCU. “Bipartisan
support at the General Assembly level can lead to meaningful, lasting progress for our students and our communities.”

As the 2026 legislative session approaches, caucus members say they are already working to identify priority legislation and budget items that
will directly benefit HBCUs. Supporters hope the effort will serve as a national model for bipartisan cooperation in higher education policy.

The launch of the HBCU Caucus underscores a growing recognition at the Capitol that investing in HBCUs is not just a matter of history or equity but a strategic investment in Virginia’s future.