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Colleagues,
Thank you for supporting this year’s Black Student Success Week and its theme, Lift Up, Level Up: The Rise of Black Serving Institutions. We appreciate you taking the time to reflect on our commitment to the academic well-being of underserved students, including but not limited to Black and African American students. However, we know that in order to continue building a better future together, this work does not end at the conclusion of Black Student Success Week.
California is home to the fifth-largest Black and African American population in the United States, and most Black undergraduates across the state attend community college. Despite this, California continues to systematically underinvest in Black students’ educational journeys when it comes to higher education funding. Just recently, the Campaign for College Opportunity released the Ensuring College Access and Success for Black Students in Higher Education report, which referenced that Black students face additional barriers to their belonging in higher education, including racism, growing mental health needs, a lack of representation in leadership and faculty and more. Furthermore, when systemic barriers, such as a lack of financial stability and academic support are removed, students are much more likely to earn their bachelor’s degree.
Please join us by clicking the link below to send a letter to state legislators requesting their support on pending legislation that makes college more affordable and supports Black students.
Click here to contact your state legislator today. To learn more about pending legislation and our policy priorities, please review the Black Student Success Week Policy Platform.
Thank you for your support. Please share this information with your colleagues, networks, and friends.
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