ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13256Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R

Executive Order 13256

President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities

This executive order establishes a presidential advisory board and White House Initiative within the Department of Education to strengthen historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) by improving their access to federal programs, increasing private sector partnerships, and requiring federal agencies to develop annual plans with measurable goals for HBCU participation in grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements.

Federal Register Open PDF 67 FR 6823

Impact dates

  1. Annual report from Board to President on HBCU participation in federal programs

  2. Annual plan establishment by each identified executive department/agency

  3. Annual Performance Report submission to Secretary by each participating department/agency

  4. Annual progress report from Board to President on enhancing HBCU capacity

Key directives

  • Establish President's Board of Advisors on HBCUs in Office of Secretary of Education
  • Board to prepare and issue annual report to President on HBCU participation in federal programs
  • Board to provide advice on infrastructure, academic programs, faculty and institutional development
  • Annual report must include recommendations on increasing private sector and foundation role
  • White House Initiative to provide staff, resources, and assistance to Board; serve as liaison
  • Each identified executive department and agency to establish annual plan with clear goals for increasing HBCU capacity to compete for grants, contracts, cooperative agreements
  • Annual goals to be reflected in agency budget submissions to OMB
  • Each agency to provide technical assistance and information to HBCUs on program activities and application preparation
  • Each identified agency to appoint senior full-time federal official as liaison to Board and Initiative
  • Each agency to develop annual plan with measurable objectives for increasing HBCU participation in federal programs
  • Plans submitted at time and in form as Secretary requires
  • Secretary to review plans and develop integrated Annual Federal Plan for submission to President

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Establishment of President's Board of Advisors on HBCUs in Office of Secretary of Education
  • Revocation of Executive Order 12876
  • White House Initiative on HBCUs designated to provide staff and assistance to Board

Near term (90d)

  • Secretary of Education to identify which executive departments and agencies are subject to order's requirements
  • Agencies to begin designating senior officials as liaisons

Long term

  • Annual reports from Board to President on HBCU participation in federal programs
  • Annual federal plans from each agency with measurable objectives for HBCU capacity building
  • Integrated Annual Federal Plan for Assistance to HBCUs developed by Secretary with Board advice
  • Annual Performance Reports measuring agency performance against objectives
  • Development of Private Sector Strategy for HBCU endowment and partnership support

Risks & tensions

  • Secretary of Education has discretion to identify which agencies are covered, creating potential for inconsistent coverage
  • 'To the fullest extent permitted by law' qualifier in Section 10(a) may limit enforceability
  • No specific funding levels mandated; 'appropriate' grants and 'as appropriate' technical assistance language creates flexibility but also uncertainty
  • Annual cycle creates implementation lag; no immediate funding or programmatic changes
  • Measurable objectives required but no standard metrics defined, risking inconsistent quality across agencies
  • Private Sector Strategy lacks specific targets or timelines
  • Potential tension between HBCU presidents on Board and broader higher education representatives regarding priorities
Executive Order 13256: President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities · Executive Orders