TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Public Schools has announced that this year’s BCPS-HBCU College Fair will be held virtually, providing an opportunity to connect students with more Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) than in previous years, including HBCUs from throughout the nation.

All BCPS high school seniors are invited to participate in the free event on Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Students can register for the fair on Naviance and through their school counselors or college counselors. All participating students are encouraged to complete the Common Black College Application (CBCA) prior to the fair. Pre-application is encouraged to receive virtual decisions from HBCUs. Many of the attending HBCUs will offer instant admission opportunities during their breakout groups. Seniors who complete the CBCA can apply to all 58 participating HBCUs, at once, for a flat fee of $20.

The BCPS-HBCU College Fair, which was founded and hosted by Milford Mill Academy for its first three years, has evolved into a school system initiative in its fourth year. This year, the BCPS Department of Student Support Services is partnering with Milford Mill Academy to host the fair.

“Our partnership with the Department of Student Support Services, the advocacy of Principal Kyria Joseph, and the overwhelming support of Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams has allowed us to grow this equitable opportunity for the students of Baltimore County Public Schools,” said Ken Berlett Jr., Milford Mill school counseling chair and event founder. “Our college counselors from all 24 BCPS high schools and several other stakeholders have collaborated for months to nurture the expansion of this annual event.”

“As a proud graduate of an HBCU and a proud member of Team BCPS,” said Kim Ferguson, director of BCPS Student Support Services, “I am extremelygrateful to Superintendent Williams for his vision and the partnership it has created between Student Support Services and Milford Mill Academy’s leadership team in offering our first ‘virtual’ HBCU Fair.”

Anticipating the possible necessity of a virtual event, the BCPS-HBCU Fair Committee began planning for the event in January. This year’s fair will feature a morning and afternoon session during which students will have the opportunity to engage in “Workshops,” “Presentations,” and “One-on-One Sessions” with college representatives. Students who apply in advance will have the opportunity to join multiple One- on-One sessions for admissions decisions.

The tentative schedule for the fourth annual BCPS-HBCU Fair is:

9 – 9:15 a.m. Opening Remarks-Session I
9:15 – 9:30a.m. “Tell Them We Are Rising”
9:30 – 10:15 a.m. Student Choice-Breakout Workshop I

Tentative workshops for students

• First Financial Federal Credit Union Scholarships
• Using Traitify to select a college major
• NCAA during COVID
• Education careers and BCPS employment
• Writing the college essay (and live essay help)

Tentative workshops for parents

• Local and federal student aid
• Find your child’s fit and match

10:15 – 11 a.m. Student Choice-College Presentation I
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Individual Sessions w/ College Reps.
12 – 12:30 p.m. Lunch – Streaming Video: BCPS-HBCU Alumni Stories
12:30 – 12:45 p.m. Opening Remarks-Session II
12:45 – 1:30 p.m. Student Choice-Breakout Workshops II
1:30 – 2:15 p.m. Student Choice-College Presentations II
2:15 – 5 p.m. Individual Sessions w/College Reps.

The following HBCUs are committed to participating, and at least five more schools are expected to be a part of the fair:

Alabama State University
Alcorn State University (offering instant admissions)
Arkansas Baptist College (offering instant admissions)
Benedict College
Bennett College
Bethune-Cookman University (offering instant admissions)
Bowie State University (offering instant admissions)
Central State University (offering instant admissions)
Cheyney University (offering instant admissions)
Claflin University
Coppin State University
Delaware State University (offering instant admissions)
Dillard University
Elizabeth City State University
Fisk University
Fort Valley State University
Hampton University
Harris-Stowe State University (offering instant admissions)
Johnson C. Smith University
LeMoyne University (offering instant admissions)
Lincoln University (MO) (offering instant admissions)
Lincoln University (PA) (offering instant admissions)
Livingstone College (offering instant admissions)
Mississippi Valley State University
Morehouse College
Morgan State University (offering instant admissions)
Norfolk State University
Paine College (offering instant admissions)
Prairie View A&M University
Savannah State University
Shaw College
Spelman College
Talladega College (offering instant admissions)
Tennessee State University
Tougaloo College (offering instant admissions)
Tuskegee University
University of Maryland, Eastern Shore (offering instant admissions)
Virginia Commonwealth University (not an HBCU)
Virginia State University (offering instant admissions)
Vorhees College (offering instant admissions)
West Virginia State University (offering instant admissions)