It’s Time to LEVEL UP & Get REAL for Black Learner Excellence
26 Higher Ed Executives, Academics and National Leaders Sound the Alarm on Declines in Black Students’ Enrollment and Completion of Postsecondary Programs and Sign-on in Support of Black Learner Excellence Initiative
Over the last decade, nearly 600,000 Black students have fallen out of America’s college system–with more than half that loss in our nation’s community colleges. These numbers are particularly notable given that community colleges, at their peak, enrolled nearly half of all Black students, and they serve as a gateway for many to the high-quality credentials needed for entry to higher wage jobs that support an individual’s sense of purpose as well as family stability.
Now, a nationwide network of CEOs, community college executives, and state and federal officials are coming together to develop a strategy to boost Black students’ enrollment and completion in postsecondary programs. Their call to action for states, federal policymakers, colleges and universities, community activists and philanthropic organizations is the first step in establishing system and policy change in support of reforms to improve the outcomes for Black students pursing postsecondary programs and degrees.
“I’ve dedicated my entire career to education, and I am fully committed to the success of all students, including Black learners, said Dr. Keith Curry, chair of the LEVEL UP & Get REAL initiative and president and CEO of Compton College.” But according to new findings from Gallup and Lumina Foundation, more of us must similarly commit to the success of Black students. Unfortunately, Black learners often experience obstacles that contribute to declines in postsecondary enrollment and completion. Racial discrimination, competing demands at home and work, and the high cost of higher education make many Black learners unable to see the value in attending college. This has contributed to a massive drop in Black students enrolling in, and succeeding in, postsecondary programs.”
To view the full call to action statement, click here.
New Brief | LEVEL UP & Get REAL
Our brief, LEVEL UP: Leveraging Explicit Value for Every Black Learner, Unapologetically, details the importance of decreasing inequities and changing the higher ed landscape so that Black learners, and by extension, all communities, thrive.
In the News
New Network Calls Spotlight on Black Student Enrollment: ‘It’s Our Responsibility’ | Inside Higher Ed
