After accreditation win, Cheyney’s president discusses future for America’s first HBCU

Cheyney University President AARON WALTON (Photo courtesy Philadelphia Tribune) by Chanel Hill, Philadelphia Tribune Staff Writer Cheyney University President Aaron Walton said his vision for the historically Black institution, or HBCU, is to be the premier educational model for academic excellence, character development and social responsibility. This comes days after it was announced the university, which is the oldest HBCU in the country, could keep its accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The school was founded in 1837 and is located in Chester and Delaware counties. “Cheyney has a model that other HBCUs and PWIs [predominantly white institutions] can emulate,” Walton said in an interview with The Tribune. “There are so many things that we’re doing at Cheyney that probably are not being done at many other institutions. “We want to share what we’re doing in hopes that other HBCUs can adopt some of the things that we’re doing to better their own institutions,” he said. “That’s why we’re here. Whenever you’re first, you lead. “We want people to know that Cheyney is going to take its rightful position as a leader in cutting edge technology and opportunities for students who matriculate to Cheyney University,” he added....