Temple University: Exploring its Identity Beyond the HBCU Label

While Temple University is not a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), it holds a unique position in the landscape of higher education, particularly concerning its relationship with the Black community and its commitment to diversity and inclusion. This article delves into the complexities surrounding Temple's identity, its historical context, and the programs and opportunities it offers that resonate with some of the values associated with HBCUs.

A Predominantly White Institution in a Black Community

Temple University, founded in 1884 by Baptist minister Russell Conwell, is a large, public, state-related research university located in North Philadelphia. Its location places it in the heart of a historically Black neighborhood, a factor that has shaped its identity and its relationship with the surrounding community. As a Predominantly White Institution (PWI), Temple's undergraduate student population is over 55% white and less than 13% Black. This demographic reality has sometimes led to discussions about the university's role in the Black community and whether it adequately serves the needs of its Black students and neighbors.

The "HBCU-ish" Debate

The complexities of Temple's identity were brought to the forefront when students wore t-shirts emblazoned with the phrase "HBCU-ish Temple University" during Homecoming festivities. This sparked a social media backlash, with many pointing out that Temple is not an HBCU and that the comparison was inappropriate. While the t-shirts were intended as a playful spoof, they touched on deeper issues of race, gentrification, and the relationship between the university and the Black community.

Some Black students at Temple have expressed that their campus life mirrors that at HBCUs due to the presence of Black fraternities and sororities, Black social events, and the school's location in a Black neighborhood. However, others argue that these superficial similarities do not make Temple an HBCU and that pretending otherwise diminishes the unique history and significance of HBCUs.

The Historical Context: Choice vs. Necessity

The debate surrounding Temple's identity highlights the fundamental differences between PWIs and HBCUs. Temple University was founded as a place where working-class students could earn a college degree through night classes and hard work. This origin story is about choice and opportunity. In contrast, HBCUs were born out of necessity, arising from the pain of slavery and Jim Crow in an American culture that was violently opposed to the education of African Americans. These schools survived on shoestring budgets in the shadows of larger PWIs that traditionally refused to admit Black students.

The existence of the HBCU was never a choice; it was a means of survival for people who were forced to create their own institutions. This historical context underscores the unique role that HBCUs have played in the education and empowerment of Black Americans.

Temple's Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Despite not being an HBCU, Temple University has made efforts to foster a welcoming and inclusive campus environment for students of all races and ethnicities. The university offers various programs and initiatives that aim to support Black students and promote cultural awareness.

Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership (IDEAL)

The Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership (IDEAL) offers programs aimed at fostering a welcoming and inclusive campus environment. This office works to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of university life.

Student Organizations and Leadership Programs

Temple has a range of student organizations and leadership programs that cater to Black students, such as the Temple University Black Alumni Alliance and the Student Success Center. These organizations provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and a sense of community for Black students.

Cultural Resource Centers and Initiatives

Temple offers various cultural resource centers and initiatives that celebrate diversity and promote cultural understanding. These centers provide a space for students to connect with their heritage and learn about other cultures.

Read also: Is Temple a Good Fit?

Community Engagement and Responsibility

Recognizing its location in a historically Black neighborhood, Temple University has a responsibility to engage with the surrounding community and address issues such as gentrification and displacement. Black students at Temple can work alongside the community to put pressure on the institution to act in the best interest of nearby residents. This may include advocating for affordable housing, supporting local businesses, and promoting educational opportunities for community members.

Learning from HBCUs

While Temple is not an HBCU, it can learn from the survival techniques of historically black colleges that thrived in the midst of hostility. This includes pressing on in spite of opposition from the surrounding community and finding unlikely allies in a place where they might not have been wanted. By adopting these strategies, Temple can strengthen its relationship with the Black community and better serve the needs of its students and neighbors.

Academic Excellence and Opportunities

Temple University is a comprehensive research university offering a wide range of academic programs and opportunities for students. The university consists of 17 schools and colleges, including five professional schools, offering over 640+ academic programs and over 160 undergraduate majors. As of 2024, about 30,005 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students were enrolled at the university.

Renowned Health System

Temple University is home to a renowned health system that is advancing breakthroughs in medical research and patient care. The Temple University Hospital, founded in 1892, is a teaching hospital that provides cutting-edge medical services to the community.

Premier Research Institution

Temple is a premier research institution leading excellence in higher education. The university's faculty and researchers are engaged in groundbreaking research across a wide range of disciplines.

Read also: Affording Temple

Global Reach

Temple University has a global presence, with campuses and programs in Rome, Tokyo, and Kyoto. These international programs provide students with opportunities to study abroad and gain a global perspective. Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) is a branch campus in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan just outside of Shibuya and in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto. Temple University Japan was the oldest and largest campus of any foreign university in Japan. In 1966, Temple established its first campus in Rome in the Villa Caproni, just north of Piazza del Popolo along the Tiber river. The Villa Caproni is the historic home of Giovanni Battista Caproni. In the Fall of 2024, Temple Rome moved to a new, central location, establishing its new campus at Piazza di Spagna-one of the most notable landmarks in the Eternal City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Facilities include classrooms, art studios and an art gallery, a science lab, a conference center, a library, and open-air terraces and a courtyard for events.

Campus and Facilities

Temple University's main campus is located in the Cecil B. Moore neighborhood of North Philadelphia. The campus features several landmarks, including the Bell Tower, Founder's Garden, and Liacouras Walk. Temple offers eight residence halls for students.

Academic Buildings

Temple University is home to a variety of academic buildings, including:

The Architecture Building, which opened in January 2012 and features a glass curtain wall exterior.
The Science and Education Research Center (SERC), which was completed in spring of 2014.
The Klein College of Media and Communication and the Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts, which will be housed in a new 199,000-square-foot facility.

Libraries

Temple University has a rich history of libraries, including the former Samuel L. Sullivan Hall (then Sullivan Memorial Library), which served as Temple's first free-standing library. In 1966, the university library moved to the Samuel L. Paley Library. In 2019, the university opened Charles Library, a four-story tall study facility.

Tyler School of Art and Architecture

The Tyler School of Art and Architecture was founded in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania in the 1930s. Temple’s Architecture program, founded in 1969, joined the school in 1990s.

Fox School of Business

The Fox School of Business offers 15 undergraduate majors, 19 minors, 10 professional master's programs, and two PhD programs, and the school has a variety of international partnerships.

College of Engineering

The College of Engineering at Temple University includes five departments: Bioengineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Center for Engineering, Management & Technology.

Beasley School of Law

The Beasley School of Law was founded in 1895 as Temple College’s Department of Law. In 2013, the Sheller Center for Social Justice at Temple Law School was created.

Klein College of Media and Communication

Founded in 1927, the Klein College of Media and Communication is one of the largest and most comprehensive schools of media and communication in the country.

Lewis Katz School of Medicine

The Lewis Katz School of Medicine was founded in 1901, making it one of the oldest schools at Temple University.

Boyer College of Music and Dance

Areas of study include Instrumental and Voice studies, Jazz studies, Music Theory, Music History, Music Composition, Music Technology, Music Therapy, Music Education, and Dance.

School of Pharmacy

The Temple University School of Pharmacy (TUSP), located at Temple's Health Science Campus, is one of six schools of pharmacy in Pennsylvania conferring the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.

College of Public Health

The College of Public Health's department was formerly housed inside the Bell Building (TECH Center). It is currently housed inside the expanded and renovated Paley Hall.

College of Science and Technology

Temple University's College of Science and Technology (CST) houses the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer & Information Sciences, Earth & Environmental Science, Mathematics, and Physics.

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