2023 HBCU Tour: Dates and Participating Universities


09/14/2023


The tour this year will make stops at 11 HBCU campuses in areas served by Comcast, with the aim of motivating the upcoming generation of pioneers, businesspersons, and creators. The event will link students with career resources and tools, as well as Black entrepreneurs and small business owners. It will also highlight stories demonstrating the significant influence HBCUs have had on higher education.

Loren Hudson, SVP and Chief Diversity Officer for Comcast Cable, emphasized that the HBCU experience extends far beyond academics. It provides students with a supportive network and community that they will value long after graduation.

The Xfinity HBCU tour is a proud initiative that offers additional resources and tools to HBCU students to enhance their campus experience, stimulate excitement about future careers and opportunities, and contribute to their long-term success.

Career Resources and Opportunities Exploration
As part of Project UP, Comcast’s extensive initiative to promote digital equity and foster a future of unlimited possibilities, selected students at the Xfinity HBCU Tour will get a chance to interact with Comcast talent and recruitment leaders. They can discuss potential career opportunities at Comcast and receive professional development guidance. Students can also participate in a resume review session with a talent development professional.

As thousands of HBCU students return to campus this fall requiring high-speed Internet for academic work and job searches, Comcast is promoting exclusive Internet deals. They are also informing about the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which offers qualifying individuals a $30/month benefit towards their Internet bill. Eligible individuals could save up to $360 a year.
 

Engage with Pioneers, Business Owners, and Creators
Additional on-site activities are planned to stimulate students’ interest in potential career paths and opportunities, by facilitating interactions with innovators, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and creators. These include:
 
Interaction with a Comcast RISE recipient: Students will get a chance to converse with a recent beneficiary of the Comcast RISE program. This program, launched in 2020, is dedicated to fostering the growth of all small businesses and promoting community investment. It offers small businesses comprehensive grant packages that include business consultation services, educational resources, a $5,000 monetary grant, creative production, media schedule, and a technology makeover. Official Tour Apparel: The Xfinity HBCU Tour has engaged HBCU and FAMU graduate Elijah Rutland to design the official HBCU tour t-shirt. Elijah will also display his creativity by designing a custom letterman jacket and a pair of Nike Air Force 1s. This initiative supports and celebrates creativity and entrepreneurship within the HBCU community. Writings in the Quad: A mosaic art installation at the heart of the event will allow students to express their creativity while celebrating HBCU community and pride.
 
Recognize the Positive Influence of HBCU Graduates
Students will have an in-person experience of The Black Experience on Xfinity, a unique destination for Black entertainment, movies, TV shows, news, and more. The booth will feature content from the recent Black Experience original The Black Beauty Effect, produced by CJ Faison, an HBCU (FAMU) graduate. This experience will empower HBCU students to celebrate their inner beauty.
 
In 2018, Comcast introduced The HBCU Experience, a unique content collection that celebrates Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their significant impact on higher education for the Black community.
 
Furthermore, Black Experience on Xfinity recently premiered two original documentaries focused on the HBCU experience. The Return is a documentary from record-breaking Hollywood producer Will Packer that explores the experiences of students and alumni from HBCUs through the lens of homecoming celebrations and traditions. Twenty Pearls: The Story of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, is a documentary film from award-winning filmmaker Deborah Riley Draper and narrated by Phylicia Rashād that closely examines the founding and legacy of the first Black sorority.
 
The 2023 tour will include visits to the following HBCUs:
Jackson State University on August 19, 2023 Edward Waters University on August 24, 2023 Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University on August 25, 2023 Atlanta DMA/AUCC on August 31, 2023 Delaware State University on September 6, 2023 Howard University on September 8, 2023 Virginia State University on September 11, 2023 Morgan State University on September 13, 2023 Tennessee State University on September 20, 2023 Alabama State University on September 21, 2023 Texas Southern University on September 25, 2023
 
To know more on Project UP click here.