This booklet presents background information and a justification for this White House initiative on historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). On November 1, 1993, President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 12876 requiring for the first time that: (1) federal agencies set annual goals for the amount of funds to be awarded to HBCUs; (2) a senior level executive in each agency have oversight in implementing the order; and (3) the Office of Management and Budget be involved in monitoring implementation of the order. Additional information offers an historical perspective; discussion of the role of HBCUs as a national resource; explanation of the role of the president's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities; consideration of the role of federal agencies, the private sector, and the Office of Personnel Management; a list of the 105 four- and two-year public and private institutions; and a list of the federal agencies supporting HBCUs under this executive order. (DB)