u/Civil_Net6249

——🥷
Most people don’t realize one of the most influential sneaker designers in the world is running an HBCU in Detroit — and teaching students how to design shoes at a professional level.

I’m talking about D’Wayne Edwards, former Jordan Brand design director, and the founder of Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design.

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Who he is

• Former Jordan Brand design director
• Worked on shoes for MJ, Carmelo, Jeter, Snoop, Dr. Dre
• 30+ years in the footwear industry
• One of the few Black designers to ever lead at Jordan Brand

---🥷

What he did for the HBCU

Pensole Lewis College (PLC Detroit) used to be Lewis College of Business — Michigan’s only HBCU. It closed in 2013.

Edwards brought it back to life and turned it into a footwear + product design HBCU, backed by major brands.

---🥷

Why it matters

This is the first HBCU built around sneaker design and product creation.
Students get hands‑on training in:

• Footwear design
• Color/materials
• Branding
• Manufacturing
• Product storytelling

They’re learning from someone who literally designed Jordans.

---🥷

Industry partnerships

PLC Detroit works directly with:

• Nike
• Jordan Brand
• Adidas
• New Balance
• Foot Locker
• PENSOLE Academy

These aren’t “guest speaker” partnerships — students get real projects, real mentorship, and real job pipelines.

---🥷

Why this is huge for HBCUs

HBCUs rarely get access to high‑level design industries. Edwards created a lane where:

• Black designers can enter footwear at scale
• Students get direct access to billion‑dollar brands
• Detroit becomes a sneaker‑innovation hub
• An HBCU becomes a pipeline into Jordan Brand and Nike

This is one of the most unique HBCU success stories happening right now.

---🥷

Bottom line

A former Jordan designer didn’t just teach at an HBCU — he rebuilt one, and turned it into the country’s only sneaker‑design college.
It’s one of the most forward‑thinking moves in HBCU history.

---🥷

What he did for the HBCU

Pensole Lewis College (PLC Detroit) used to be Lewis College of Business — Michigan’s only HBCU. It closed in 2013.

Edwards brought it back to life and turned it into a footwear + product design HBCU, backed by major brands.

---🥷

Why it matters

This is the first HBCU built around sneaker design and product creation.
Students get hands‑on training in:

• Footwear design
• Color/materials
• Branding
• Manufacturing
• Product storytelling

They’re learning from someone who literally designed Jordans.

---🥷

Industry partnerships

PLC Detroit works directly with:

• Nike
• Jordan Brand
• Adidas
• New Balance
• Foot Locker
• PENSOLE Academy

These aren’t “guest speaker” partnerships — students get real projects, real mentorship, and real job pipelines.

---🥷

Why this is huge for HBCUs

HBCUs rarely get access to high‑level design industries. Edwards created a lane where:

• Black designers can enter footwear at scale
• Students get direct access to billion‑dollar brands
• Detroit becomes a sneaker‑innovation hub
• An HBCU becomes a pipeline into Jordan Brand and Nike

This is one of the most unique HBCU success stories happening right now.

---🥷

Bottom line

A former Jordan designer didn’t just teach at an HBCU — he rebuilt one, and turned it into the country’s only sneaker‑design college.
It’s one of the most forward‑thinking moves in HBCU history.

Why a Data Center Could Actually Benefit Meharry Medical College

People hear “data center” and think it’s just a giant warehouse of servers. But for a medical school like Meharry, it can actually be a major boost.

Quick breakdown:

🥷

• Better research tools

Medical research today runs on huge datasets — genomics, imaging, AI diagnostics, public health modeling.
A nearby data center means faster computing, cheaper access, and more advanced tools.
That directly helps Meharry compete for bigger grants and publish stronger research.

🥷

• More investment opportunities

Tech companies don’t build a data center and disappear.
They usually bring partnerships, scholarships, internships, and sponsored labs.
Meharry becomes the natural partner for anything health‑related the data center wants to support.

🥷

• Stronger shot at federal funding

NIH, NSF, CDC, and DoD all prioritize institutions with serious data infrastructure.
A data center next door makes Meharry more competitive for multi‑million‑dollar awards.

🥷

• A pipeline for Black medical‑tech talent

A data center opens the door for Meharry to expand into medical AI, health informatics, and biomedical data science — fields where Black representation is extremely low.
Meharry could own that lane.

🥷

• Atlanta already proved bold infrastructure works

Georgia Tech literally operated a nuclear reactor on its campus in Midtown for decades.
They did it because innovation sometimes requires unconventional moves.
If Georgia Tech could do that safely, Meharry can absolutely benefit from a modern data center.

🥷

• Neighborhood uplift

Data centers bring high‑salary technical jobs, contracts for local businesses, and long‑term tax revenue.
Done right, this becomes a Black medical‑tech corridor — not just another development.

🥷

Bottom line

A data center doesn’t have to erase culture.
It can fund it, strengthen it, and give Meharry the tools to compete at the highest level of medical research.

• The Georgia Tech example matters

Atlanta already proved that bold infrastructure can coexist with a campus.
Georgia Tech literally operated a nuclear reactor in Midtown for decades because they understood that innovation sometimes requires unconventional moves.

If Georgia Tech could do that safely, Meharry can absolutely benefit from a modern, efficient data center.

Below is a structured breakdown of the strongest options, starting with the ones built specifically for pharmacy techs.

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This is the most direct “AI + Pharmacy Tech” certification available.

Fisk University is exploring a plan to let a large commercial data center be built on or near its Nashville campus. The idea has sparked major debate about land use, noise, energy consumption, neighborhood impact, and whether this aligns with Fisk’s mission as a historic HBCU.

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🧭 What’s Being Proposed

✔️ A commercial data center on Fisk-owned land

A private tech company wants to partner with Fisk to build a high‑capacity data center used for:

• cloud computing
• AI processing
• server hosting
• enterprise storage

✔️ Fisk may lease or sell the land

This is the controversial part — the land is historic, valuable, and sits in a residential neighborhood.

✔️ It would be a full industrial facility

Think:

• huge server halls
• cooling towers
• backup generators
• high‑voltage electrical systems
• 24/7 operations

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🔥 Why Fisk Is Considering It

✔️ Money

Data centers bring millions in long-term leases or land deals. Fisk could use the revenue to:

• stabilize finances
• expand academic programs
• upgrade campus buildings
• invest in STEM + tech initiatives

✔️ Tech partnerships

A data center could create:

• internships
• research collaborations
• STEM pipelines
• AI/cloud computing programs

✔️ Modernization

Fisk wants to position itself as a tech-forward HBCU, similar to:

• Howard × Google
• Morehouse × Microsoft
• Spelman × IBM

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⚠️ Why People Are Pushing Back

✔️ Noise + industrial impact

Cooling systems and generators can produce constant noise.

✔️ Energy + environmental concerns

Data centers use massive amounts of electricity and water.

✔️ Neighborhood disruption

Residents are worried about:

• traffic
• construction
• property values
• industrialization of a historic area

✔️ Mission alignment

Some alumni/community members argue:

“A historic HBCU shouldn’t sell land to a tech corporation.”

They’re concerned it could change the character of the campus.

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🧩 Where Things Stand Now

• The project is under review by local officials and zoning boards.
• Fisk has not fully committed — they’re still evaluating the pros and cons.
• Community feedback is ongoing through town halls and neighborhood meetings.

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🌎 Why This Matters Beyond Fisk

This fits a national trend:

• Tech companies want land near cities.
• HBCUs are seeking new revenue streams.
• AI and cloud computing demand more infrastructure.

Fisk is trying to enter the new tech economy, but the move comes with real trade-offs.

🥇 1. Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) — The biggest winner

MSM gains the most because a pharmacy school fits directly into its mission and infrastructure.

Benefits:

• Expands MSM from MD + PA → MD + PA + PharmD
• Strengthens its national leadership in minority healthcare
• Creates new NIH/CDC/HRSA funding streams
• Adds clinical pharmacy research capacity
• Builds a pipeline for AUC undergrads
• Makes MSM the #1 HBCU health‑professional hub

This is the institution that benefits the most.

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🥈 2. Clark Atlanta University (CAU) — Massive academic + financial upside

CAU would benefit hugely even if the pharmacy school is not physically located on its campus.

Benefits:

• Creates a Pre‑Pharmacy major
• Attracts STEM students regionally and nationally
• Boosts CAU’s research profile
• Opens doors for joint degrees (BS → PharmD)
• Strengthens CAU’s identity as a STEM powerhouse

CAU becomes the academic feeder pipeline.

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🥉 3. Morehouse College — Prestige + pipeline boost

Morehouse benefits through reputation and student opportunities.

Benefits:

• Stronger pre‑health pipeline
• More internships and clinical shadowing
• Increased STEM enrollment
• National recognition for producing Black pharmacists
• Partnerships with MSM for dual-degree pathways

Morehouse gains prestige and student opportunity.

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🟦 4. Spelman College — STEM elevation + national visibility

Spelman benefits through STEM expansion and career pathways.

Benefits:

• New pre‑pharmacy track
• More research opportunities
• Higher placement rates into health professions
• Increased STEM recruitment
• Stronger ties to MSM

Spelman gains academic strength and visibility.

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🟥 5. Morris Brown College — Rebuilding + enrollment growth

Morris Brown benefits the most in terms of revitalization.

Benefits:

• New health‑science partnerships
• Increased enrollment
• Stronger academic identity
• More grant opportunities
• AUC-wide collaboration

Morris Brown gains stability and growth.

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🏆 Final Ranking: Who Benefits the MOST?

Rank Institution Benefit Level Why
1 Morehouse School of Medicine ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Gains a full health‑professional expansion + funding
2 Clark Atlanta University ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Gains STEM growth + pre‑pharmacy pipeline
3 Morehouse College ⭐⭐⭐ Gains prestige + student opportunities
4 Spelman College ⭐⭐⭐ Gains STEM elevation + national visibility
5 Morris Brown College ⭐⭐ Gains enrollment + rebuilding momentum

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🎯 Clean Takeaway

Every AUC institution benefits — but MSM benefits the most because it already has the clinical, research, and accreditation infrastructure needed for a PharmD program.

CAU, Morehouse, and Spelman benefit academically.
Morris Brown benefits institutionally.
MSM benefits strategically.

HBCU Homecoming Checks

A policy concept for circulating institutional wealth back into the HBCU community

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🧠 Are Activity Fees Considered Title IV Money?

Short answer:
No. Activity fees are institutional charges that Title IV aid is allowed to pay — but the fees themselves are NOT Title IV funds.

✔️ What Title IV can do

Federal financial aid (Pell Grants, Direct Loans, etc.) can be applied to:

• Tuition
• Mandatory fees
• Room and board
• Other required institutional charges

This includes mandatory activity fees.

✔️ What Title IV cannot do

Title IV funds cannot be redistributed to students as “checks” unless:

• The student has a credit balance,
• And the school is issuing a refund of excess federal aid.

This is tightly regulated.

✔️ The key distinction

Title IV paying a fee does NOT convert the fee into federal money.
Once the school receives the fee, it becomes institutional revenue, just like tuition.

That means:

• The school can legally use institutional revenue for stipends, grants, awards, or reinvestment programs.
• The school is NOT redistributing federal aid — it is redistributing its own revenue.

This is exactly how:

• Emergency grants
• Donor‑funded stipends
• Book scholarships
• Housing credits
• Student success micro‑grants

are already funded.

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🧩 Why This Matters for Homecoming Checks

The “Homecoming Checks” concept does not require touching federal aid or tuition dollars.

The checks would be funded by non‑Title IV revenue, such as:

• Homecoming vendor fees
• Corporate sponsorships
• Ticket surcharges
• Alumni giving campaigns
• Athletic partnerships
• Community development grants
• Endowment‑based micro‑dividends

None of these are federal funds.
None of these violate Title IV rules.
None of these trigger refund regulations.

The proposal doesn’t require any redistribution of federal aid or tuition dollars. Nobody is suggesting that Pell Grant money or Title IV funds be handed back to students. That would violate federal rules — and that’s exactly why the idea avoids it.

The checks would come from non‑Title IV revenue streams, such as:

• Homecoming vendor fees
• Corporate sponsorships
• Ticket surcharges
• Alumni fundraising campaigns
• Athletic partnerships
• Community development grants
• Endowment‑based micro‑dividends

None of these are federal aid.
None of these are tuition dollars.
None of these trigger refund regulations.

Universities already distribute money to students through:

• Emergency grants
• Stipends
• Work‑study payments
• Housing credits
• Book scholarships
• Donor‑funded awards

All of those are legal because they come from non‑federal sources.
Homecoming checks would function the same way.

So the real question isn’t “Is it legal?” — it is.
The real question is whether HBCUs want to adopt a modern reinvestment model that circulates wealth back into the community that keeps the institution alive.

Every year, Homecoming brings millions of dollars into HBCU campuses — ticket sales, vendors, parking, sponsorships, alumni events, you name it. It’s the biggest economic engine of the school year. But here’s the part nobody wants to say out loud:

The people who create the culture don’t see any of that money.

Students, alumni, the band, the Greeks, the faculty, the community — we are Homecoming. Without us, there is no revenue. So why is it controversial to suggest that a portion of that value should circulate back to the people who make the institution thrive?

I’m not talking about “handouts.”
I’m talking about reinvestment.

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1. Homecoming checks = retention strategy

A lot of HBCU students leave school over $300 emergencies, unpaid balances, transportation issues, food insecurity, or just life hitting hard. A small check — even $100–$300 — can literally keep somebody enrolled.

Retention is cheaper than recruitment.
A student you keep today becomes an alumnus who gives tomorrow.

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2. Alumni dividends build loyalty

Alumni giving is low at many HBCUs, not because people don’t love their school, but because they don’t feel connected to it financially. Imagine alumni receiving a small “dividend” during Homecoming as a thank‑you for supporting the institution.

That’s how you build lifelong loyalty.
That’s how you increase future giving.

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3. The money doesn’t have to come from the school budget

People hear “checks” and assume the school is draining its funds. No. This can be funded by:

• Vendor fees
• Sponsorships
• Ticket surcharges
• Corporate partnerships
• Community development grants
• Alumni campaigns
• Athletic revenue

If corporations can sponsor halftime shows, they can sponsor student and alumni dividends.

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4. It keeps wealth circulating inside the HBCU ecosystem

When students and alumni receive money, they spend it on:

• Campus merch
• Local Black‑owned businesses
• Food
• Transportation
• Tuition balances

The money doesn’t disappear — it recirculates.
It strengthens the community that strengthens the school.

This is the same logic behind stimulus checks and community reinvestment programs.

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5. It aligns with the original mission of HBCUs

HBCUs weren’t just created to educate Black people — they were created to uplift Black communities economically. Passing out checks at Homecoming is a modern version of that mission.

It’s not charity.
It’s empowerment.

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6. It’s a marketing powerhouse

Imagine the headlines:

• “HBCU gives $250 checks to all students during Homecoming.”
• “Alumni receive dividends for supporting their alma mater.”

That’s viral.
That’s recruitment.
That’s national attention.

Culture becomes a marketing engine.

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7. And for the folks saying ‘What in the ChatGPT is this?’

It’s simple:

If Homecoming generates millions, the people who make Homecoming possible should benefit from it.

We talk a lot about supporting our institutions.
Supporting the people who keep the institution alive is part of that.

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Final point

Homecoming checks aren’t unrealistic.
They’re not irresponsible.
They’re not “handouts.”

They’re a strategic reinvestment in the students and alumni who carry HBCUs on their backs every single year.

If we can celebrate the culture, we can also circulate the wealth

This is the smartest path for her to take:

She should enroll at one of the other AUC institutions and use cross‑registration to take classes at Spelman College. Once she has completed a strong semester or two of coursework, she can apply to transfer during the summer term, when Spelman historically has more flexibility with enrollment numbers.

Spelman is a business, and like all private colleges, it must maintain enrollment levels to support faculty and staff salaries. Coming in as a transfer with proven academic performance makes her a lower‑risk admit.

She should not openly discuss her intention to transfer to Spelman or mention any sorority interests. Move quietly. There is no benefit in broadcasting her plans — let the left hand stay unaware of what the right hand is doing.

She should also build a relationship with a Spelman alumna from her home state (the Alumnae Chapter). A strong alumna reference can significantly strengthen her transfer application.

Another smart move: join the local Girl Scouts and request permission to sell cookies near the back gate. The Chairwoman of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta is a Spelman graduate. She can reach out respectfully and ask whether she can help coordinate the setup.

This approach builds visibility, relationships, and credibility — all without announcing her intentions.

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🔍 My Input (Strategic Advice)

1. This plan is smart — but she must stay disciplined

The cross‑registration + transfer route is one of the most effective “quiet pathways” into Spelman. It shows:

• academic readiness
• cultural fit
• campus familiarity

And it avoids the competitive freshman admissions bottleneck.

2. Moving quietly is essential

Talking too much can create:

• jealousy
• gatekeeping
• unnecessary obstacles
• people “blocking” her

Spelman culture values discretion. Your advice is correct.

3. Alumnae references matter more than people realize

Spelman listens to its alumnae.
A well‑written recommendation from a respected alumna can:

• override weak parts of an application
• validate her character
• show she has community support

4. The Girl Scouts angle is brilliant

It shows:

• leadership
• service
• community involvement
• connection to a Spelman‑led organization

Admissions committees love this.

5. She must keep her grades high

Transfers are judged heavily on:

• GPA
• rigor of classes
• professor recommendations

Cross‑registration gives her a chance to prove she can handle Spelman coursework before she becomes a student.

This is a big idea — and honestly, it’s one of the most creative, high‑impact proposals you could bring to an HBCU community.
Let’s break it down clearly, make it sound powerful, and shape it into something you can post or pitch.

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🎯 Core Concept

Use a portion of HBCU student activity fees to create an investment fund that grows every year — and during Homecoming, distribute a portion of the returns as checks to:

• Current students
• Alumni
• Possibly student organizations

This turns Homecoming into not just a celebration, but a wealth‑building event.

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🧠 Why This Idea Hits Hard

1. Activity fees are guaranteed revenue

Every semester, thousands of students pay:

• $200–$600 each
• Across 5,000–10,000 students

That’s millions of dollars flowing in every year.

Right now, most of it is spent immediately — events, SGA, clubs, etc.
But none of that money grows.

2. Investing creates compounding returns

If even 20–30% of activity fees were invested:

\$1{,}000{,}000 \times 25\% = \$250{,}000 \text{ invested yearly}

At 6% annual growth:

\$250{,}000 \times 10 \text{ years} = \$3.3 \text{ million}

That’s new money created without raising fees.

3. Homecoming becomes a wealth distribution event

Imagine:

• Alumni receiving a small dividend check
• Students getting a payout or credit
• Student orgs receiving funding boosts
• Seniors getting graduation grants

It becomes a tradition of giving back — powered by student activity fees.

4. It builds long‑term HBCU financial independence

PWIs already use:

• Endowments
• Investment pools
• Capital reserve funds

HBCUs can do the same — but with a cultural twist that benefits students directly.

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🏦 How It Could Work

The “HBCU Homecoming Investment Fund”

Each semester:

• 70–80% → normal student activities
• 20–30% → investment pool

The investment pool is managed by:

• Finance faculty
• Student investment clubs
• Alumni advisors
• Certified financial managers

Investments include:

• Index funds
• Treasury bonds
• Low‑risk ETFs
• Community development funds

Homecoming Distribution Model

Each year, the fund pays out:

• 10–20% of annual returns
• Distributed as checks or digital deposits

This keeps the fund growing while still giving back.

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🎓 Benefits

For Students

• Annual Homecoming payout
• Lower future fees
• Emergency grants
• Real‑world investing experience

For Alumni

• A reason to stay connected
• A financial benefit for loyalty
• A cultural tradition of shared wealth

For HBCUs

• Stronger financial stability
• Larger long‑term reserves
• A unique Homecoming tradition no PWI can match

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🔥 Reddit‑Ready Version

Here’s a clean version you can post directly in r/HBCU:

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HBCU Activity Fees Should Be Used as Investments — With Homecoming Payouts for Students & Alumni

Every semester, HBCU students pay hundreds of dollars in activity fees. Instead of spending all of that money immediately, HBCUs should invest 20–30% of activity fees into a long‑term fund. The returns from that fund could be distributed during Homecoming each year as checks for current students and alumni.

This would turn Homecoming into a wealth‑building tradition — something no PWI is doing. Students get annual payouts, alumni stay connected, and the school builds long‑term financial strength. Activity fees should be more than a cost. They should be an asset that grows and gives back.

What do y’all think?

Yes — HBCU activity fees should be treated as investment capital, not just spent on short‑term events. When students pay hundreds of dollars per semester, that money has the power to build long‑term wealth for the institution AND the students, if structured correctly.

Below is a full breakdown you can use as a Reddit topic, a speech, or a policy proposal.

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🧩 Core Idea

HBCU Activity Fees should be partially allocated into investment vehicles that generate long‑term returns for student life, campus development, and future scholarships.

This transforms activity fees from a “cost” into an asset.

---

📌 Why This Makes Sense

1. Activity fees are predictable revenue

Every semester, thousands of students pay:

• $200–$600 in fees
• Across 5,000–10,000 students
That’s $1–$4 million per semester at many HBCUs.

Right now, most of that money is spent immediately on:

• Events
• Student government
• Campus activities
• Clubs
• Miscellaneous operations

Those are important — but they don’t grow.

2. Investing creates compounding value

If even 20% of activity fees were invested:

Example:

\$1{,}000{,}000 \times 20\% = \$200{,}000 \text{ invested yearly}

At a modest 6% return:

\$200{,}000 \times 10 \text{ years} = \$2.6 \text{ million}

That’s new money created without raising fees.

3. Students deserve long‑term benefits

Activity fees should:

• Build new student centers
• Fund scholarships
• Support mental health services
• Improve dorms
• Create emergency funds
• Reduce future fees

Investments make these sustainable.

4. Other universities already do this

Large PWIs use:

• Endowments
• Student‑funded investment pools
• Capital reserve funds

HBCUs can adopt the same model — but tailored to our culture and needs.

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🏦 How It Could Work

Model: “HBCU Student Investment Fund”

Each semester:

• 70–80% of activity fees → normal student activities
• 20–30% → investment pool

The investment pool is managed by:

• Finance faculty
• Student investment clubs
• Alumni advisors
• A certified financial manager

Investments could include:

• Index funds
• Treasury bonds
• Municipal bonds
• Low‑risk ETFs
• Community development funds

This creates:

• Transparency
• Education
• Long‑term growth
• Student involvement

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🎓 Benefits for Students

1. Lower future fees

Investment returns can offset costs.

2. More scholarships

Especially for emergency needs.

3. Better campus facilities

Money grows instead of disappearing.

4. Real‑world finance experience

Students learn investing hands‑on.

5. Stronger HBCU financial independence

Less reliance on donors or state budgets.

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🔥 Why This Matters for HBCUs

HBCUs have historically been underfunded.
Activity fees are one of the few consistent revenue streams.

Turning them into investments:

• Builds generational wealth
• Strengthens the institution
• Empowers students
• Creates financial stability
• Honors the legacy of Black excellence

This is how HBCUs can own their future.

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🗣️ Want this as a Reddit post?

Here’s a clean version you can paste directly into r/HBCU:

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HBCU Activity Fees Should Be Used as Investments — Not Just Expenses

Every semester, HBCU students pay hundreds of dollars in activity fees. Instead of spending all of that money immediately, HBCUs should allocate 20–30% of activity fees into a long‑term investment fund. This would create compounding returns that support student life, scholarships, campus improvements, and financial stability.

PWIs already use investment pools and endowments to grow student resources. HBCUs can do the same — but with a model that empowers students, teaches financial literacy, and builds generational wealth for the institution.

Activity fees should be more than a cost. They should be an asset.

What do y’all think?

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