Howard must recommit to its purpose: to serve the Black community in full, regardless of class, background, or access to wealth. Right now, the annual cost of attending Howard exceeds the average income of Black American families. Many students come to this university with the dream of creating generational wealth, lifting their families out of hardship, and stepping fully into their purpose. That dream should not be limited by financial status or family circumstances.

What we are asking for is not ambitious — it’s the bare minimum. These are standard services and resources that many students at other private institutions already receive. Howard students should not be expected to fight for basic support while also carrying the weight of academics, multiple jobs, and financial strain.

While some of these solutions are being carried out by student leaders and campus organizations, it is not sustainable. Students cannot and should not be expected to do the work of the institution. We are calling for immediate and intentional action from university leadership to address these long-standing issues.

• Increase scholarships and financial aid, not loans. Black students should be able to attend an HBCU without incurring insurmountable debt. Other private institutions such as Amherst College, Harvard University, Brandeis, and Cornell have implemented full-ride or significantly reduced tuition packages for low-income students. Howard must follow suit by:
• Expanding institutional need-based aid
  Increasing the availability of gap-closing and full-ride scholarships
• Reducing reliance on Parent PLUS and private loans

• Support students in managing day-to-day living expenses. Students are not just navigating tuition — they are navigating adult life. Howard must take actionable steps to reduce daily cost burdens by:
• Partnering with WMATA to provide free or discounted Metro U-Passes, as done at American and George Washington University
• Offering emergency grants, textbook stipends, and housing support for students with demonstrated need
• Improving access to consistent resources such as free laundry, hygiene products, and food vouchers for students with demonstrated financial need.

• Invest in first-generation, low-income, and non-traditional student support. Howard must recognize that many students are navigating higher education without institutional knowledge, financial safety nets, or family support. The university must:
• Establish a central office or staff team dedicated to supporting first-gen and low-income students.
• Implement campus-wide financial literacy programming — not just for business majors — to cover budgeting, debt, credit, taxes, and long-term wealth-building
• Provide ongoing mentorship, academic coaching, and life skills training outside of student-led initiatives. 

• Increase access to essential student service offices. Key offices like Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and the Registrar must be equipped to meet student needs in real time. We call for Howard to:
• Hire additional staff and clearly define their roles. 
• Ensure phone lines are answered and emails receive timely responses.
• Ensure that each essential department keeps their phone lines operating during business hours, and are consistently responding to voicemails and clearing the voicemail box.

• Implement university-wide training across all departments. Students should not be misdirected or left without answers when they seek help. We need to dismantle the notorious “Howard Run-Around” by ensuring every department receives consistent, up-to-date training on:
• What resources are available to students
• Who the correct points of contact are within each office
• How to engage student concerns with professionalism, accuracy, and urgency

• Refocus on the student experience
  If students are paying more, we should see real improvements to our learning and living conditions — not just cosmetic upgrades.

• One of the most urgent issues is food quality. The cost of Howard’s meal plans is high, and for many students, this is their only source of daily meals. That food must reflect the importance of long-term health. Students deserve access to meals that are balanced, nutritious, and support well-being — especially within a student population where many are managing chronic or underlying health conditions that disproportionately affect Black communities.
• Howard must also prioritize classroom structure and academic space. Too many professors and students are left scrambling to find classrooms, delaying instruction or being forced to move classes online — not by choice, but because there simply isn’t enough space. While online learning is a valuable tool, it should never be used as a default solution to compensate for the university’s failure to provide adequate in-person facilities. We are paying full tuition — we should be able to learn in person.

We need:

• Extended late-night study spaces and access to academic buildings.
• Nutritious, balanced food options that reflect the high cost of meal plans and support long-term student health.
• Renovated classrooms and learning spaces, with structure and scheduling as a clear priority.
• Increased campus security and safety measures that center student wellbeing.

The time to act is now. Too many students are barely making ends meet — working long hours, skipping meals, and facing impossible choices about their future. Every semester, students are forced to ask themselves whether they can afford to stay, whether the debt is worth it, and whether Howard truly sees and supports them. No one comes to this university expecting to be pushed out by financial hardship, yet too many are left with no choice but to transfer or drop out. That is not the Howard experience we were promised — and it cannot continue. Leadership must act urgently, intentionally, and with students at the center of every decision.