Tennessee State University (TSU) has a long and proud history as a Historically Black Land-Grant University (HBCU). However, this history is also marked by a legacy of underfunding by the state of Tennessee.
Established in 1912, TSU was created as a result of the federal government’s decision to provide funding for separate land-grant colleges for Black students in states that maintained segregated higher education systems. While these land-grant schools were intended to receive “just and equitable” funding, TSU, like many other HBCUs, has consistently received far less state support than its predominantly white counterparts.
This historical underfunding has had significant consequences for TSU. The university has been forced to operate with limited resources, impacting its ability to provide students with the same level of educational opportunities and facilities as other land-grant institutions.
Recent studies have highlighted the extent of this underfunding. A 2021 analysis by the Tennessee Office of Legislative Budget Analysis found that the state’s failure to match federal research funds to TSU resulted in a shortfall of $151 million to $544 million since 1957. Furthermore, the Biden administration determined that Tennessee had underfunded TSU by a staggering $2.1 billion over the past 30 years, the highest amount of any state in the nation.
While the state has recently allocated $250 million to TSU for infrastructure projects, this funding only begins to address the historical inequities faced by the university. TSU’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing impact of systemic racism and the urgent need for equitable funding for HBCUs across the country.
