Promising Practices for Black & Latino Men in Higher Education

1. Engaging OUR black & latinomen Promising practices across the postsecondary spectrum

2. Food for thought: • “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” – Frederick Douglass • “The achievement gap for men of color is the crisis of our time.” – Lisa McBride, VP for Diversity & Inclusion at Salem State University

3. Presenters • Jeff Joseph, Massasoit Community College • Paul Bonitto, Boston College • Diane Scott, Academy of the Pacific Rim (grades 5-12 public charter school) • [in absentia– Ralph Tavares, Providence College; Troy Lazaro, UMass Lowell]

4. Taking a look at the stats/data … • Six-year college completion rates by race (NSC, 2017): • Asian 63.2% • White 62% • Hispanic 45.8% • Black 38% • … by income (Perna, Pell Institute study): • Lowest income quartile – 9% • Second lowest income quartile – 17% • … and by 1st gen (Engle & Tinto; Georgetown): • 4 times more likely to leave after 1st year • 15% completion of Bachelor’s within 6 years • Three-year completion rates (US DOE, 2017): • African-American – 24.7%; Whites – 33.2% • Af-Am women – 27.2%; Af-Am men – 21.4% • Among two-year to four-year transfers, by race: • 25% Asians & 20% Whites Bach. at 6 years • compared to 10% of Hispanics & 8% of Blacks • White students are increasingly concentrated in the country’s 468 most selective, well-funded four year colleges and universities, while African-American and Hispanic students are more and more concentrated in the least well-funded, open access two- and four-year colleges. (Carnevale & Strohl)

5. Some of the Current, relevant research • Brooms – cultural wealth • Harper – race, campus climates, & success • Jack – succeeding at PWIs (PP vs. DD) • Arnold; Museus – retention/success of underrepresented students at PWIs • Steele & Aronson – stereotype threat • Carnevale & Strohl – interactions of race & class • Morales; Petty – active help-seeking and creative approaches with 1st gen students • BOOKS & ARTICLES that may be of interest: • Empowering Men of Color on Campus. Brooms, Clark, & Smith. Rutgers University Press, 2018. • Advancing Black Male Student Success From Preschool through Ph.D. Harper. Stylus, 2015. • Comprehensive Fact Sheet: Men of Color in Higher Education. Center for Community College Student Engagement, 2014. • Beyond Stereotypes in Black & White: How Everyday Leaders Can Build Healthier Opportunities for African-American Boys & Men. Treadwell, Henrie M. Praeger, 2013.

6. Ubuntu scholars at Massasoit community college (jeff joseph) • UBUNTU: Your Success is My Success; I Am Because You Are • Mentoring Program – serving male 1st years • EQUIP, ENGAGE, EMPOWER • Goals: • Healthy transition to college • Facilitate academic and personal success • Culturally-inclusive learning community • Program Components/How It All Works: • Ubuntu Mentoring Program • Academy Mentors • Paid Peer Leaders – male of color, enrolled in at least 6 credits, successfully completed at least two semesters at MCC • Mary E. Baker Ubuntu Scholars Club • Community Breakfasts • Creating PIPELINES – more connections with HSs and Bridgewater State liaison at MCC

7. Multicultural student success programs at providence college (asst. dean, ralph Tavares) • Three distinct programs: MC Scholarships ($, mentoring, leadership & community involvement); Transitions (pre-orientation program for SOC & 1st gen); Ascend (four stages of leadership development), but for ALL students of color and first gen students … & so created Brotherhood • Brotherhood Headshots – collaboration with Career Ctr.; attend in business attire & have headshots taken for LinkedIn; topics incl.: personal branding, resume building, interview skills • Brotherhood & Women Empowered Joint Retreat – open discussion and dialogue about each gender; also: relationships, rape culture on college campuses, family • Brotherhood and Office of Safety & Security BBQ – welcome luncheon to build/improve relationships • Brotherhood Membership Mtgs.: What it means to be a man; Mothers and their impression on us; What prison does to a young man’s mind (the new Jim Crow); the BLM movement; Transitions in life (Path of a Hero) • Six-year grad. rates for students of color: 73.8% in 2011 to 85.4% in 2013

9. Notes from admissions at boston college (paulbonitto) • Options Through Education (OTE) – alternative admissions; summer program; since 1979 • Select group of diverse students who have demonstrated potential and leadership despite challenging educational and financial circumstances; FREE, 7-week, 40-45 students • Facilitate academic success and personal development by providing a community of support and resources to help students succeed • Exposure to resources at BC, incl. leadership and co-curricular, academic, work study • Weekend trips to enhance spiritual, emotional and intellectual growth • Review available academic supports and improve study skills • Facilitate cultural competency workshops for students to articulate identity

10. NOTES FROM Paul (BC & formerly bridgewater state university), cont’d. • RELATIONSHIPS – challenge of connection made in recruitment/admissions, then on road in fall; retention challenge – help them find that other comfort zone, trust circle • Need for a MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH – e.g., people of color on staff in Career Services • Examples of CHALLENGES students face – • story of a twin brother from North Carolina • African-American vs. African students • Athlete or not • … and a word about selective college-access CBOs – need to focus on building community; how do you present college to them?

11. Academy of the pacific rim • Tracking & support (for all students) – Advisory, Bi-weekly Progress Reports, … • Men’s Group – confidential discussion group facilitated by Dean on masculinity, male development • Dual Enrollment – open to all seniors, but est’d to target low-income Black & Latino males (underperf.) • Summer Internships (“PREP”) – exposure to college, career, comm. svc.; developing prof. skills; equity • Events – e.g., Thurgood; Black History Month; Morehouse Young Men’s Leadership Conference • Transition to College & Career – Senior Send-Off/transition curriculum; NABA, NSBE, etc.; HE partners • Alumni Engagement & Support – FAFSA renewal; transfer (e.g., SM); grad school (e.g., AE) • … and a word about ENGAGEMENT on the postsecondary side (PASSIVE vs. EMBEDDED)

12. Thank you for coming! • Keep in touch • Keep up the critical work • Keep the faith