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(April 21, 2025) Los Angeles, Calif. -- Community colleges across California and the nation kicked off the sixth annual Black Student Success Week on April 21, highlighting student success and the state’s recent adoption of the Black-Serving Institutions designation.
This year’s theme is “Lift Up, Level Up: The Rise of Black Serving Institutions.” First launched in 2020 as an online, practitioner and policymaker-focused event, Black Student Success Week has continued to grow and expand its offerings annually and, in recent years, has begun to include student-focused and in-person activities at individual campuses, regional activities across the state and national participation.
“Student success in higher education is at the heart of Black Student Success Week,” said Dr. Keith Curry, chair of Black Student Success Week and president/CEO of Compton College. “How can we ensure that our students, including but not limited to Black and African American students, succeed in college? That’s what this week of advocacy and celebration is about. We’re giving the tools and resources to our practitioners, lobbying our policymakers and bringing awareness to our students of what is out there to help them achieve their goals.”
Central to this year’s activities is the state’s recent passage of SB 1348, introduced by former state Senator Steven Bradford, which created the Black Serving Institution (BSI) designation in California and was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2024. The BSI designation Application and additional resources are now available on the California State University's Central Office for the Advancement of Black Student Success website.
Webinars will be held daily throughout the week. #TheBlackHour will be held from 12 - 1 p.m. with #TheAfterParty held immediately following from 1 - 2 p.m. #TheStudentHour will give students a chance to learn about resources and support from their colleges and the state each day from 6 - 7 p.m. The first #BlackHour webinar is “The Rise of Black Serving Institutions” and will be held Monday, April 21, from 12 - 1 p.m. It will focus on how a BSI designation will address systemic inequities, enhance resources and improve educational outcomes. On Thursday, April 24, stakeholders and interested parties will engage with local and regional elected officials and higher education policymakers during #TheBlackOut Advocacy Day. The 2025 Black Student Success Week Policy Platform will be at the center of that discussion.
This year’s newest feature is The Sneaker Ball, an in-person closing party to foster community and connection across the California Community College system. The Sneaker Ball will take place at the College of San Mateo, Long Beach City College, Merritt College and San Diego City College, with all sites connected via live stream. Students, faculty, staff and administrators are welcome to attend whichever regional site is closest to them.
Black Student Success Week partners included the African American Males and
Education Network and Development (A2MEND), American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), the California Community Colleges, the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, the Campaign for College Opportunity, the Community College League of California, EdTrust West, Nandi, The National Council of Black American Affairs, the Equity Avengers, the Umoja Community and others. For the full list of partners, visit blkstudentsuccess.com.
The full Black Student Success Week schedule is listed below:
Monday, April 21, 2025
12 - 1 p.m. #TheBlackHour - The Rise of Black Serving Institutions
1 - 2 p m. #TheAfterParty
6 - 7 p.m. #TheStudentHour - Basic Needs & Financial Intelligence
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
12 - 1 p.m. #TheBlackHour - Black Servingness: Maintaining Our Voice and Action
1 - 2 p.m. #TheAfterParty
6 - 7 p.m. #TheStudentHour - Dream it, Plan it: Transfer to a Four-Year
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
12 - 1 p.m. #TheBlackHourPower Moves - Equipping Black Talent for Tomorrow's Workforce
1 - 2 p.m. #TheAfterParty
6 - 7 p.m. #TheStudentHour - Learn it, Earn it: Access Good Paying Career Paths
Thursday, April 24, 2025
#TheBlackOut Advocacy Day
12 - 1 p.m. #TheBlackHour - Putting the AFRICAN in African American Student Success
1 - 2 p.m. #TheAfterParty
6 - 7 p.m. #TheStudentHour - Cash for College Workshop
Friday, April 25, 2025
12 - 1 p.m. #TheBlackHour - Live from the Frontlines of Black Student Success: Accounts from Practitioners and Executive Leadership
1 - 2 p.m. #TheAfterParty
5 - 8 p.m. #TheSneakerBall
For more information about Black Student Success Week, visit blkstudentsuccess.com.
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