Beyond the Yard: DSU's Digital Bet on the Future of HBCUs

DOVER, Del. – December 04, 2025

Delaware State University (DSU), a cornerstone of the Historically Black College and University landscape, has announced a landmark partnership poised to carry its legacy far beyond the physical campus. In a collaboration with education technology firm Risepoint, DSU is set to dramatically expand its online degree programs, channeling them through the innovative eHBCU consortium. This move isn't just about adding more courses online; it's a strategic effort to redefine access to the transformative power of an HBCU education for learners across the nation, regardless of their location or life circumstances.

The partnership aims to launch a new slate of in-demand online degrees by Fall 2026, leveraging Risepoint's technological and marketing infrastructure to reach a vast, untapped market of potential students. As a founding member of eHBCU—the country's only online consortium for Black higher education—DSU is at the forefront of a movement that could reshape the future of these vital institutions. The initiative seeks to answer a critical question: In an increasingly digital world, how can the pride, community, and opportunity of an HBCU be delivered to everyone, everywhere?

A Digital Engine for Economic Mobility

At the heart of this initiative is a long-recognized truth, powerfully articulated by eHBCU Chairman and DSU President, Tony Allen. "Despite the debate over the value of a college degree in today's marketplace, it is still a point of fact that college degree attainment is central to economic mobility, particularly in the African American community," Allen stated, referencing a 2021 United Negro College Fund report. The data shows that for an African American from a low-resource community, matriculating at an HBCU is one of the most significant predictors of entering the American middle class.

The eHBCU consortium was created to scale that impact. Launched in late 2024 with foundational funding from social venture capital investor Blue Meridian Partners and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and later bolstered by the Lilly Endowment, the platform unites DSU with Alabama State University, the Southern University system, and Detroit's Pensole Lewis College. Together, they offer over 30 degrees and dozens of certifications, specifically targeting the more than six million Black Americans who have some college credit but have not yet completed their degree.

This partnership is a direct response to a changing educational landscape. As President Allen noted, the modern university cannot be confined to its physical campus, or "the yard." He continued, "We need to be everywhere they are and be there with the latest tools. There are 5 million online learners... We have an enormous opportunity." By meeting students where they are—online and often balancing work and family—DSU and its partners aim to turn this opportunity into a powerful engine for community uplift and individual advancement.

The Architecture of Access: A Controversial Blueprint

To build this new digital campus, DSU and eHBCU have turned to Risepoint, a major player in the Online Program Management (OPM) industry. OPMs provide universities with the capital and infrastructure—from marketing and recruitment to course development support and student services—to launch and scale online programs rapidly. For institutions, this model offers a way to enter the competitive online market without the prohibitive upfront investment.

However, the OPM model, and Risepoint's in particular, is not without its critics. These firms typically operate on a tuition-share agreement, where the company receives a substantial percentage of the revenue, often 50% or more, from the students it helps enroll. Industry watchdogs and some higher education experts have raised concerns that this model can create a conflict of interest, incentivizing OPMs to prioritize high enrollment numbers over student support and academic outcomes. Critics argue that these arrangements can siphon crucial funds away from the core educational mission of the university and lack transparency, sometimes leaving institutions dependent on their corporate partners for everything from student data to the course materials themselves.

Risepoint, which rebranded from Academic Partnerships in 2023, remains the largest OPM in the United States. The company states its mission is to expand access to affordable, workforce-focused education. "We are proud to partner with Delaware State University and see what's possible when mission-driven institutions and technology come together," said Fernando Bleichmar, CEO of Risepoint. For DSU, this partnership represents a calculated trade-off: leveraging a powerful, market-tested engine for growth while navigating the complexities of a business model that continues to draw scrutiny. The success of this venture will hinge on the university's ability to maintain control over its academic integrity and ensure the partnership truly serves students first.

Preserving the Soul of the Yard in a Virtual World

Perhaps the most profound challenge facing the eHBCU initiative is not technological or financial, but cultural. The HBCU experience has always been about more than just academics; it is defined by a unique ecosystem of support, mentorship, shared heritage, and a deep-seated sense of community. The "yard" is a place of belonging and identity formation. How can this intangible but essential "soul" be translated into a digital format?

The leaders behind eHBCU are acutely aware of this question. The consortium was explicitly "built on the legacy of HBCUs and centered around Black student success," with a promise of "culturally relevant programs" and a supportive online community. To foster connection among its dispersed student body, eHBCU has launched an engagement initiative called "Meet Me at the E," designed to create virtual spaces for community building. The platform also aims to connect students with industry mentors and a network of HBCU alumni, attempting to replicate the powerful networking and support systems found on physical campuses.

The curriculum itself is being designed to be "culturally grounded," ensuring that the educational content reflects the history and perspective that make an HBCU education distinct. This intentional design is critical. For the partnership to be a true success, it must do more than just grant degrees; it must instill the same sense of pride and connection that has empowered HBCU graduates for generations. The challenge is to ensure that online students feel like they are part of the DSU Hornet family, not just customers of a digital platform.

A New Model for a New Era

The collaboration between DSU, eHBCU, and Risepoint represents a bold new model for higher education, one that blends public service, philanthropic vision, and private-sector mechanics. The initial philanthropic investments from Blue Meridian and the Lilly Endowment provided the critical seed funding to build the consortium, but its long-term sustainability is designed to be self-perpetuating, fueled by tuition revenue generated through the partnership.

This hybrid model allows HBCUs to compete in the hyper-competitive online education market, a space dominated by large, well-funded universities. By pooling resources through the consortium and leveraging Risepoint's market reach, these institutions can attract the working adults and career-changers who are increasingly turning to online programs for upskilling in high-demand fields like healthcare, IT, and business.

This strategic pivot is not just about survival; it is about thriving and expanding the mission. It acknowledges that the future of service in higher education involves embracing innovative delivery models to reach underserved populations. The Fall 2026 launch of DSU's expanded programs will be a major test of this model. Its success will be measured not only in enrollment figures but in graduation rates, career outcomes, and the ability to prove that the deep, lasting impact of an HBCU education can indeed transcend the boundaries of a physical campus.