GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) _ U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is scheduled to hear about challenges confronting historically black colleges and universities in North Carolina.

Duncan and U.S. Rep. Alma Adams of Greensboro plan to meet Thursday with presidents, chancellors, and representatives of five schools at Bennett College. That’s where Adams taught and worked for 40 years before her election to Congress this year.

There are about 100 historically black colleges and universities around the country and many are struggling. Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, Howard University in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina State University in Orangeburg are among those struggling to stay solvent.

Duncan and Adams are meeting privately with leaders from Bennett College, Livingstone College, Winston Salem State University, North Carolina A&T State University and Johnson C. Smith University.