K. Leroy Irvis, the first African American to serve as Speaker of the House in any state legislature in the United States since Reconstruction, was an individual who cared. Committed to the broader community, a statesman, scholar, humanitarian, orator, sculptor, painter and advocate for the common man and the common good, K. Leroy Irvis dedicated his life and leadership skills to the improvement of all Pennsylvania’s. He worked tirelessly through the Legislative processes to better the plight of his fellow man. The members of the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education salute you.
In 1970, the Honorable K. Leroy Irvis, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania convened a conference of Black college presidents, vice presidents, deans, department chairs, directors, teachers, and other needed political leaders and professionals. In response to the needs of African American students, faculty, staff, and administration this conference was created to provide needed input into the formation of a master plan for higher education. As part of the Master Plan, Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education was formed with the mission to ensure equal education for African Americans and other minorities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The primary concern of the first conference in 1971 was the advancement of African-Americans in higher education. At that first conference community college education and its affordability and quality, developing a student loan program, and establishing an organization that would have as its primary goal the advancement of African-Americans were the issues discussed. Today those goals have been realized. Pennsylvania now has: a community college system which is one of the best in the nation, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education; an Higher Education Assistance Agency which has an outstanding record in offering opportunities to those who would otherwise be financially prohibited from attending college, such as providing need-based scholarships and incentive programs; and the Pennsylvania Black Conference On Higher Education.
The purpose of PBCOHE is to insure that the educational needs of minorities and African-American students in Pennsylvania are addressed. PBCOHE shall facilitate meeting this goal by utilizing its individual and collective resources for developing and implementing effective educational programming. The review and analysis of state and federal legislation for effect on African-Americans and other minorities in higher education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is also an objective of PBCOHE. Additionally, the Conference is responsible for providing a means of communication and for consulting with local, state, and federal agencies, both private and public, to encourage co-sponsorship of the Conference efforts.