A consortium of six historically Black colleges and universities, known as eHBCU, launched a course-sharing partnership with Acadeum on June 25, 2026. This collaboration allows students to enroll in approved online courses offered by other eHBCU member institutions without transferring credits or losing progress toward their degrees.

Delaware State University leads the eHBCU consortium, which was initially launched in 2025. The participating institutions include Southern University and A&M College, Southern University at Shreveport, Southern University at New Orleans, Alabama State University, and Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design. Terry Jeffries, the executive director of eHBCU, stated that supporting students while ensuring their connection to an HBCU experience was a reason for the partnership. "That was one of the reasons we partnered with [Acadeum]," Jeffries said. "To support students wherever they are in their journey, while still ensuring they can remain connected to an HBCU experience."

Bree Cook, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Southern University at New Orleans, provided an example of the partnership's impact. "We actually have a current student who is missing two classes, and one of those courses isn't being offered this term, but the student needs it to stay in sequence," Cook said. "We found the course, the dean approved it, and now that student will be able to take it online." She added that the student was able to enroll for the summer term, avoiding a delay until fall or spring. "Instead of having to wait until fall or spring, we were able to get the student enrolled for the summer," Cook said. Cook also noted that the partnership reduces the need for frequent course substitutions. "Instead of doing a whole bunch of course substitutions—which you try to avoid—you really want students to take the actual course or an equivalent that fits their major," Cook said. "If it's an elective we know we're not going to offer because there aren't enough students, there's no reason students still can't move forward. So the expansion of courses is really significant."

Students within the consortium are also eligible for success coaching, virtual student services, career counseling, and culturally relevant coursework. Patrice Gilliam-Johnson, the provost and chief academic officer at Delaware State University, noted the importance of these supports. "The wraparound support is significant in helping students be successful because that's our goal," Gilliam-Johnson said. "By working together, we can extend those supports across institutions and ensure students have what they need to stay on track to graduation."

Jeffries also discussed the expansion of course offerings through the agreement. "Our portfolio grew significantly just through this agreement, and that's important in itself," he said. "It gives us the ability to scale without having to create every course internally and absorb those costs, because we can lean into the course-sharing model." Cook reinforced the collaborative nature of the partnership. "What's so significant about the partnership is that we're collaborating with each other to amplify what we're already doing," Cook said. "It's not a competition. We're focused on how we can enrich the learning environments for students at our respective institutions by working together and building together."

Why It Matters

This course-sharing partnership expands academic opportunities for students at six historically Black colleges and universities. By allowing students to enroll in online courses across the consortium, the agreement addresses issues such as course availability and the need for course substitutions. The collaboration also aims to enhance student support services and provide a mechanism for institutions to expand their academic portfolios without incurring additional internal costs.