Dive Brief:

• Maryland and attorneys representing historically black colleges have agreed to try to mediate a resolution to create high-demand academic programs at the schools.
• The announcement comes after a 60-page ruling in October that found the state has not fully desegregated its public higher-education system.
• In the initial ruling, the judge cited a study that found Maryland's historically black institutions have just 11 unique, high-demand programs; traditionally white institutions have 122.

Dive Insight:

The judge ruled in October that because the historically black colleges could not compete well for students, they were more segregated now than they were in the 1970s. She urged the state to enter into mediation, and that's exactly what they've done. The plaintiffs in the case were students and alumni who went to trial after mediation failed. But having the court ruling on their side might help things along this time.