Education, research and culture

Executive Order 12876: Historically Black Colleges and Universities

President: Bill Clinton

Created an HBCU advisory board and government-wide planning and reporting duties; EO 13256 revoked it and established a successor initiative.

Status: Revoked — by EO 13256 in 2002.

Is Executive Order 12876 still in effect? No. EO 13256 revoked it in 2002.

What does Executive Order 12876 do?

EO 12876 established an HBCU advisory board and directed annual federal agency goals, plans and performance reports, with Education and OMB coordinating the initiative. The board’s March 1999 annual report reviewed agency support and recommended greater discretionary funding, federal centers and other measures. Those were the board’s recommendations, not funding awards made by the order. EO 13256 revoked EO 12876 in 2002 and established a successor initiative.

Administration position: The order said expanded federal and private-sector participation would strengthen HBCU capacity and student opportunity. It set program goals rather than guaranteeing particular awards or outcomes.
SignedNovember 1, 1993
Lead departmentEducation
Core cycleAnnual agency goals, plans and performance reports

Before and after

Before the order

An earlier HBCU initiative existed under EO 12677.

After the order

EO 12876 replaced the earlier order and operated until EO 13256 created the next presidential HBCU framework.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Education DepartmentSupport the board, coordinate agency plans and prepare an integrated federal planAnnually
Designated agenciesSet goals, appoint a senior official and report performanceAnnually
OMBOversee compliance with the integrated federal planDuring the annual cycle
OPM with Education and LaborDevelop a recruitment program involving HBCUsUnder the order

What happened next

EO 12876 established the initiative and revoked EO 12677.

EO 13256 revoked EO 12876 and established a successor framework.