President Donald Trump signed an executive order on the final day of Black History Month demonstrating his commitment to African-American colleges.

Trump is moving the initiative to boost Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from the Department of Education, where advocates of the program say it received insufficient attention in Barack Obama's administration, to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

'This is a very important moment and a moment that means a great deal to me,' Trump said in the Oval Office.

The executive order will make HBCUs 'a priority again,' a senior administration official said, promising the 'full force of the White House' to the education initiative.

The measure had been applauded by HBCU advocates. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos courted controversy, however, when she said that the black colleges, which were by definition founded in the era of segregation, were proof of the success that the school choice policies she's pushing have had.

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Education Secretary Betsy DeVos courted controversy when she said that the black colleges, which were by definition founded in the era of segregation, were proof of the success that the school choice policies she's pushing have had

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on the final day of Black History Month demonstrating his commitment to African-American colleges

He's pictured with leaders of historically black colleges yesterday during an impromptu meeting in the Oval Office

DeVos said in a Monday statement, 'HBCUs are real pioneers when it comes to school choice.

'They are living proof that when more options are provided to students, they are afforded greater access and greater quality. Their success has shown that more options help students flourish.'

Educators told Politico that they were 'floored' by the DeVos statement and called it a 'bit crazy.' Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill called it 'totally nuts.'

'HBCUs were created for African-Americans because they had no choice and were unable to attend schools due to segregation laws,' Austin Lane, president of Texas Southern University, said.

Lane was among a group of HBCU representatives who visited the White House yesterday and met with DeVos and Trump.

The Department of Education has since pointed out that DeVos also said schools with the HBCU designation 'started from the fact that there were too many students in America who did not have equal access to education.

'They saw that the system wasn’t working, that there was an absence of opportunity, so they took it upon themselves to provide the solution.'

Trump's White House had hoped to put a spotlight on the Republican presidents outreach to the black community with the HBCU initiative signing.

The repositioning of HBCUs within the administration is on its face minor. But educators and industry organizations say the change could have significant results. Colleges under the HBCU umbrella now have a direct line to the White House.

Under Obama, the initiative to support the more than 100 higher education facilities in the United States founded before 1964 with the stated purpose of teaching African-American students got 'lost' in the Education Department, a Trump administration official said.

This White House says it intends the elevate and aid the institutions, which have a combined enrollment of some 300,000 students. The executive order Trump's signing today was to be a starting point.

Throughout February, Black History Month, the president and his senior staff have participated in listening sessions with HBCU leaders to identify regulatory changes that would benefit the colleges and universities.

Yesterday, senior White House officials, including Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and senior policy advisor Stephen Miller stopped by a meeting of nearly 70 HBCUs and advocacy organizations that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Vice President Mike Pence also attended.

Yesterday, senior White House officials, including Kellyanne Conway, pictured, stopped by a meeting of nearly 70 HBCUs and advocacy organizations. The president greeted many of them during a break in the Roosevelt Room talks that came at his request

The president greeted many of them during a break in the Roosevelt Room talks that came at his request.

'I don't think we've ever had this many people in the Oval Office,' he said as they gathered round to take a picture. 'This could be a new record, forever.'

The unexpected Oval Office gathering is an example of the president's hospitality, Pence later said.

'When he hears that there are wonderful people like yourselves in the White House, you see what happens.'

However, Dillard University President Walter Kimbrough complained afterward 'there was very little listening to HBCU presidents.'

Another meeting participant told DailyMail.com that the high-level engagement was more than HBCUs ever saw under the Obama administration.

'In eight years the Obama admin never had a convening of all of the HBCU presidents and chancellors. In February, March, April, May, June, July, all the way to December, never did it.'

Trump's executive order does not make additional departmental or regulatory changes to directly benefit HBCUs or provide them with additional gran money or other funding.

The president's executive order will make Historically Black Colleges and Universities 'a priority again,' a senior administration official said, promising the 'full force of the White House' to the education initiative

But the meeting participant told DailyMail.com that was to be expected. The president is only just beginning to work on his annual budget.

'The EO is not going to go into things that the president is not able to do. Executive orders I do not believe are designed to put out budget numbers.'

Yesterday's interactions with White House staff - 'that's part of the EO,' the source said.

'It's the fullness of what this White House is doing, I think is significant and can't be just boiled down to what might, or may not be in one EO.'

The text of the order that Trump signed this afternoon has not been released.

A senior administration official offered a preview during a briefing with reporters Monday evening, saying then that it was 'intended to make HBCUs a priority again.'

By moving the initiative to the White House, HBCUs will have access to executive departments and agencies that are not inside the Department of Education, the official said.

'This will also allow HBCUs to serve as a strategic partner to the President’s urban agenda of creating jobs, revitalizing communities, and making inner cities safe again.'

Many HBCU enrollees are the first in the families to attend college. At some institutions, the majority rely on Pell Grants or scholarships to offset costs.

'Those first generation college students transform families and they transform a nation,' Pence told HBCU stakeholders yesterday, saying that grads 'add their own unique brush stroke to the beautiful American tapestry and the legacy of African Americans.

The vice president said in his remarks, 'America is unquestionably stronger because of the institutions that are represented here.

'You deserve far more credit than you get, and know that beginning today, this administration is committed to making sure that our historically black colleges and universities get the credit and the attention they deserve.'

Vice President Mike Pence told HBCU leaders yesterday, 'America is unquestionably stronger because of the institutions that are represented here.' DeVos and White House aide Omarosa Manigault are seen to his left

That focus will extend beyond Black History Month, the administration official who spoke to reporters on background signaled.

Talking about the HBCUs order last week and its timing, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said, 'Obviously, that is something that we’re committed to getting done by the end of Black History Month. So our days are numbered.

'But there’s a commitment by the President and the staff to really focus on this issue and give it the proper respect that it deserves.'

The meeting participant who talked to DailyMail.com said even if the executive order was timed to Black History Month, at least Trump was signing it.

'I would say that past administrations could have done the same and they didn't,' the attendee said. 'During Black History Month President Obama had once a year to do this - and he never did it.'