Cheyney University
dates back to 1837 when Quakers in Philadelphia established the&nbsp;Institute of Colored Youth. Richard Humphreys&nbsp;donated a large portion of his estate for the purposes of educating the African Americans as
teachers. The school moved to this location in 1902 and in&nbsp;1983 it joined the Pennsylvania State System of Higher
Education as Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is the oldest of all of the&nbsp;HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)&nbsp;

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Constructed in 1938, Biddle Hall is home to the offices of the President of Cheyney University as well as many other administrative offices. The building is named in honor of long-serving college board member James G. Biddle, who served on the board from 1912 until his death in 1947

Biddle Hall, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

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Initially Cheyney University
was named the African
Institute and the Institute of Colored Youth. In fact, this university roots
from a school for African-Americans which were founded by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Humphreys_(philanthropist)" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Richard Humphreys</a>, a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_Friends" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Quaker</a> philanthropist.
He donated $10,000 for the purposes of educating the African Americans as
teachers. Thus Cheyney University started awarding degrees of teachers in 1914.
Actually,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Humphreys_(philanthropist)" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Humphreys</a> and his fellow Quakers established this institution with an aim "to instruct the descendants of the African Race in school learning, in
the various branches of the mechanic Arts, trades and Agriculture, in order to
prepare and fit and qualify them to act as teachers ...". Thus, this was
the beginning of the history of Cheyney University; today Cheyney University
students represent a variety of races, cultures, and nationalities who receive
quality instruction beyond the original vision of Humphreys (History of Cheyney University”, n. d.).
&nbsp;In fact, the school altered
its official name a few times and in 1983 it entered State System of Higher
Education as Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. The students from Philadelphia
schools often enter this University and, in general, this educational
institution cooperates with the city and the state quite effectively. In the
past there were a few issues concerning underfinancing which were resolved in
1999 when Cheyney obtained $35 million from the state for
academic purposes and building new educational offices. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

As mentioned, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is “the oldest of the
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in America” (The Cheyney Foundation, n. d.).
Undoubtedly, the commitment to historic traditions is very important for the
teachers and students of the University. One of these
traditions is the readiness to work with students of various backgrounds;
actually, Cheyney University strives to maintain intellectually favorable and
socially comfortable environment for every student. In particular, one of the
features of this University is teaching students in small classes of 15 students;
this approach to teaching helps to communicate to every student
effectively.&nbsp; Also, the University
provides the degrees in those areas which are highly required by the American
economy, i.e., Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. In addition, Cheyney
University offers Teacher Education Program to those students who want to
devote their professional career to education. Discussing the development of &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the educational facilities of the University
it must be said that a new Science Center was opened in fall 2012. In this
Center students can acquire knowledge in Chemistry Lab, Computer Lab,
Planetarium and math and physics classrooms. Also, students have an opportunity
to apply the facilities of General Biology Lab, Advanced Biology Lab and
Biology Research Lab Spaces, including Dark Room and Cold Storage (Cheyney University of
Pennsylvania, n. d). Indeed, the facilities offered by the Science
Center provide impressive possibilities for the scientific development of
students with any educational background. The Center also offers such
sustainable features as sustainable features as day lighting, demonstration of green
roof and rain water recycling. Additionally, the students have a chance to
visit rain garden and work with highly efficient mechanical systems which apply recycled and
local materials (Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, n. d.).&nbsp; All these educational opportunities contribute to successful studying of
students who “enter careers such as journalism, medicine, business,
science/technology, law, communications, and government service” (<a href="http://www.cheyney.edu/about-cheyney-university/)%20Also" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">About CU, n. d.). Also</a>, the
students possess the possibility to obtain master’s degrees; the University offers these degrees in teaching, education and public
administration. In a whole, more 30,000 students graduated from Cheyney
University during the years of its functioning.&nbsp;
Actually, “well known alumni include the late Ed Bradley, a
correspondent of the CBS program “60 Minutes;” Pedro Rivera, Pennsylvania
Secretary of Education; Robert W. Bogle, publisher and CEO of the Philadelphia
Tribune; Dr. Audrey F. Bronson, a member of the PA State System of Higher
Education’s Board of Governors, etc. (About CU, n. d.). 

Cheyney University is also famous for its athletics; in fact, basketball
is one of the most favorite sports of the University students. Apparently, the
University can boast of numerous successes such as winning National
Championship in 1978. The University’s success in basketball is largely
related to the coaches of men’s and women’s teams Dominique Stephens and
Marilyn Stephens.&nbsp; Dominique is a member
of NCAA Division II Basketball Championship team; in turn, his sister, Marylin is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_University" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Temple University</a> Hall of Famer. Also, the University offers the facilities for training
in volleyball, tennis, track and field and cross country. 

Apparently, today
the University has to deal with a number of financial and organizational
problems. As mentioned, it was put on probation because of few issues which
arose due to problems with management and insufficient financing. One of the
most discouraging news is “its
six-year graduation rate, which is 26 percent, low even among historically
Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) like Cheyney, which serve many
disadvantaged students and historically have rates below 55 percent” (Woodhouse, 2015) Actually, one of
the biggest problems is low enrollment to the university; it has to be solved
as soon as possible by the leadership of the University together with the state
authorities. Indeed, Cheyney University performs a very important mission of
providing higher education to African American students. Thus, this university
has to be preserved for the future of the young people and for the country as a
whole.

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is a university in Cheyney, Pensylvannia, which teaches a variety of sciences to students who are mostly Black. It was founded in 1837 and it is necessary to mention the fact that this is the only one historically Black university in the USA. The students who graduate from the university obtain bachelor's and master's degrees. In November 2015, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education resolved to announce a probation period for Cheyney University. According to its decision, the administration of the educational institution is to revise its approach to shaping budget spending and evaluation of studies. 

Biddle Hall, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

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