by Kevin Hitt September 23, 2020
The Esports Observer

After two years in the making and following the entrance of HBCUs into the collegiate esports scene, The HBCU Esports Alliance (HEA) and CSL College have partnered to bring esports competition and academic opportunities to the full complement of HBCU schools this fall. This partnership includes full support from both the school administrations as well as the students attending the involved institutions.

The partnership will see Initiatives that include competitive participation offerings through tournament events, invitationals, leagues, and intramurals. The HEA and CSL partnership will also provide advisory support for those administrations looking to build curriculum and academic programming, career development, recruiting strategies, and more in order to help HBCU students learn about job opportunities in the gaming and esports space.

Christened “The Yard” to commemorate the legacy of HBCU campus life, the HEA has reached out and will be working closely with a number of HBCU school administrators to provide an understanding of the esports realm as well as the opportunities within.

The Yard: HBCU Esports Alliance was formed Formed by Dr. Marc Williams, the Global Scholar Practitioner at Florida Memorial University, who will serve as the commissioner of the league, along with Rod Chappell, the League’s associate commissioner and the CEO of HBCU Direct. Williams and Chappell will look to work in conjunction with a number of senior HBCU administrators in both academic and athletic departments.