At Dillard University (Louisiana), federal financial support enables the university to make fledgling programs solid. The programs are supported by the Education Department's program for "developing institutions," known as Title III after the part of the Higher Education Act that authorizes them. (MLW)

Problems and controversies involving public black colleges are reported in the context of the recent Supreme Court decision suggesting states should merge historically black colleges with geographically close, predominantly white institutions. In some cases white political leaders are blamed for potential closures of vulnerable institutions.…