TSU and HBCUs represent America’s promise that education can change lives and build a more equitable future for everyone.

At the Dec. 16th State Building Commission meeting, calls were made for more layoffs, selling university property, and declaring financial exigency at Tennessee State University (TSU).

TSU’s leadership responded that “all options are on the table” – a deeply troubling stance.

Financial exigency – akin to bankruptcy reorganization – should be a tool of absolute last resort. Prematurely invoking it would harm the university’s credibility, reputation, and ability to serve its students.

During my tenure as interim president, my team and I developed a financial model that charted a clear path to restore TSU’s financial stability within a few years.

This plan provided a viable alternative to punitive measures like financial exigency, which I firmly believe would jeopardize TSU’s long-term mission.

Despite the challenges, I remain hopeful. TSU can and must be saved because historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) matter now more than ever.

Why HBCUs like TSU are essential

I have spent much of my career at the intersection of finance and higher education, leading turnarounds at Clark Atlanta University, Kentucky State University, and Tennessee State University.

I also helped establish the HBCU Executive Leadership Instituteto prepare future leaders. This work has shown me the unmatched power and promise of HBCUs.

HBCUs are not just institutions of higher learning; they are beacons of opportunity that have anchored communities, fueled America’s progress, and uplifted generations. Since the first HBCU was founded in 1837, they have provided pathways to education and social mobility for learners, often excluded from traditional systems.

TSU embodies this mission with a unique combination of responsibilities:

• An HBCU legacy of access and impact.
• A Land Grant Institution supporting agricultural and economic development.
• An R2 Carnegie Classification for research and innovation—one of only 11 HBCUs to achieve this designation.
• A Regional Comprehensive University serving as Nashville’s public university.

Opinion: Tennessee State University is underfunded and was poorly run. Both can be true

Few universities carry this weight, and TSU has stood as a vital engine of progress since 1912.

Consider the contributions of HBCUs

HBCUs are engines of impact across all areas of society:

• Arts & Culture: From literary pioneers like Langston Hughes to TSU alumna Oprah Winfrey, HBCUs have shaped culture, creativity, and storytelling worldwide.
• Economic Empowerment: HBCUs generate $16.5 billion annually in economic impact, creating jobs and driving local economies. Combined as a company, they would rank among the top 50 Fortune 500 employers.
• Education & Research: HBCUs confer 17% of bachelor’s degrees earned by Black students despite being only 3% of all institutions. TSU’s research leads to advancements in agriculture, engineering, and science.
• Health & Well-Being: HBCUs produce a disproportionate share of Black doctors, nurses, and health professionals, addressing disparities in underserved communities.
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: HBCUs foster leaders and innovators, empowering graduates to launch businesses, solve problems, and create societal change.

Challenges facing TSU and public HBCUs

Despite these extraordinary contributions, HBCUs like TSU face systemic barriers: decades of underfunding, structural misalignment, and rising external pressures. Inflation, declining enrollment, and the FAFSA rollout delay have further strained resources.

TSU, for instance, has endured a 23% enrollment drop, with inefficiencies in financial aid systems and affordability concerns compounding the challenge.

At the same time, the burden of historic underfunding cannot be ignored; reports from the U.S. Department of Education estimate Tennessee owes TSU $2.1 billion in underfunded land-grant appropriations. 

The Governor and General Assembly have acknowledged $544 million owed, and recent steps have been taken to address this. However, far more is required to close the gap and secure TSU’s future.

A path forward: Valuing and futureproofing HBCUs

Perception drives action. HBCUs must no longer be viewed as struggling institutions but as vital engines of progress that drive America’s success. Futureproofing HBCUs will require:

• Equitable Investment: Address historic funding gaps and provide operational resources, not just infrastructure dollars.
• Financial Sustainability: Align expenditures with revenue, unlock new funding sources, and optimize resources.
• Student-Centered Innovation: Modernize enrollment systems, expand financial aid access, and ensure student affordability.
• Elevating the HBCU Identity: Redefine the HBCU brand to honor its legacy while advancing a future-focused mission.

Why TSU must be saved

TSU transforms lives, strengthens communities, and fuels Tennessee’s economy.

It is a gateway to opportunity for first-generation and underserved students and a driver of innovation, agriculture, and research.

TSUs and HBCUs matter. They represent America’s promise that education can change lives and build a more equitable future for everyone.

When TSU thrives, Tennessee thrives. When HBCUs thrive, America thrives.

Ronald A. Johnson, Ph.D., is the former interim president of Tennessee State University