By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, in order to advance the development of human potential, to strengthen the capacity of historically Black colleges and universities to provide quality education, and to increase opportunities to participate in and benefit from Federal programs, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. There shall be established in the Department of Education, an Advisory Commission, the President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The members of the Board shall be appointed by the President. The Secretary of Education, with the advice of the Board of Advisors, shall supervise the annual development of a Federal program designed to achieve an increase in the participation by historically Black colleges and universities in federally sponsored programs. The Board of Advisors will also provide advice on how to increase the private sector role in strengthening historically Black colleges and universities. Particular emphasis shall be given to facilitating technical, planning, and development advice to historically Black colleges and universities, with the goal of ensuring the long-term viability of these institutions.
Sec. 2. The Board of Advisors shall include appropriate representatives of historically Black colleges and universities, of other institutions of higher education, of business and finance, of private foundations, and of secondary education.
Sec. 3. The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, housed in the Department of Education, shall provide the staff, resources, and assistance for the Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities; shall assist the Secretary of Education in the role of liaison between the Executive branch and historically Black colleges and universities; and shall serve the Secretary of Education in carrying out his responsibilities under this order.
Sec. 4. Each Executive department and those Executive agencies designated by the Secretary of Education shall establish an annual plan to increase the ability of historically Black colleges and universities to participate in federally sponsored programs. These plans shall describe measurable objectives for proposed agency actions to fulfill this order and shall be submitted at such time and in such form as the Secretary of Education shall designate. In consultation with participating Executive agencies, the Secretary of Education shall review these plans and develop an integrated Annual Federal Plan for Assistance to Historically Black Colleges and Universities for consideration by the President.
Sec. 5. The Secretary of Education shall ensure that each president of a historically Black college or university is given the opportunity to comment on the proposed Annual Federal Plan prior to its consideration by the President.
Sec. 6. Each participating agency shall submit to the Secretary of Education a midyear progress report and at the end of the year an Annual Performance Report that shall specify agency performance against its measurable objectives.
Sec. 7. Every third year, the Secretary of Education shall oversee a special review by every designated Executive department and agency of its programs to determine the extent to which historically Black colleges and universities are given an equal opportunity to participate in federally sponsored programs. This review will examine unintended regulatory barriers, determine the adequacy of announcements of program opportunities of interest to these institutions, and identify ways of eliminating inequalities and disadvantages.
Sec. 8. The Board of Advisors, working through the White House Initiative, shall provide advice on how historically Black colleges and universities can achieve greater financial security through the use of improved business, accounting, management, and development techniques. To the maximum extent possible, the Board of Advisors shall enlist the resources and experience of the private sector in providing the assistance. To this end, historically Black colleges and universities shall be given high priority within the White House Office of National Service.