On August 29, 2024, I received a call from my college president, Dr. Keith Curry, with exciting news: Senate Bill 1348, Postsecondary Education: Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions, had passed the Senate and was on its way to the Governor’s desk. Authored by Senator Steven Bradford, SB 1348 allows institutions of higher education to apply for designation as a Black Serving Institution (BSI). This designation signals a heightened priority and increased investment in the success of Black students.
In California, efforts to improve Black student success have been ongoing, but the passage of this bill can profoundly impact their educational trajectory. Historically, Black students have lagged behind their peers in enrollment, course completion, and retention. The BSI designation would serve as a beacon for prospective students, assuring them that their success is a priority.
At Compton College, Dr. Curry has been a visionary leader in prioritizing Black student success. The college has implemented a robust data collection program centered on student voices and institutional data, revealing that Black students were disproportionately impacted by nearly every campus metric. This information led to the creation of Compton College’s Black and Males of Color Success Initiative, which focuses on improving educational pathways and fostering a sense of belonging.
As the director of the Black and Males of Color Success Initiative at Compton College, I have dedicated my career to supporting Black students. Reflecting on my own college experience, I often wonder how different my journey and the experience of other young black minds at the time might have been if there had been designated institutions prioritizing Black student success. My work at Compton College is deeply personal and driven by a commitment to ensure that current and future students have the support and resources they need to succeed.
The BSI designation is crucial to my work because it provides a formal recognition and framework for the efforts already underway at Compton College. It validates the importance of targeted support for Black students and helps secure additional resources and funding. This designation also enhances the visibility of the college’s commitment to Black student success, attracting more students who might otherwise feel disconnected or unsupported in their educational journey.
The Black and Males of Color Success Initiative has facilitated increased collaboration across Compton College’s academic, administrative, and student support areas. It has developed intentional programming and community-building opportunities that affirm Black students’ experience through cultural identity development, culturally relevant academic success strategies, and personal and professional development. Ongoing professional development opportunities for faculty and staff have also been crucial in creating a culturally responsive environment.
The success of these efforts is evident in events like the two-year-old Black Grad Celebration, which recognizes the unique and often difficult journey of Black scholars. Attendance at this event has nearly tripled from last year, indicating the initiative’s positive impact.
While there is still much work ahead, SB 1348 shines a light on campuses like Compton College that are taking intentional steps to address the needs of Black students. Additionally, these institutions serve as models for how the entire higher education community should support and advance the Black student agenda. We are excited about the future and committed to helping every campus lift its students, harnessing and affirming their potential as brilliant Black minds.
In closing, I wanted to share a personal story. Late last week, I found myself going through emails from 2004. The world was a much different place then, and so was I. I was on the verge of starting college, the world was ahead of me, and I was still close to many of my high school friends. I discovered an email from a friend I was very close to. In the email, the friend expressed the same feelings of excitement for the future. I had the privilege of attending a state college that (at the time) had a viable Black student population of about 15%. Here, I would quickly find a community of like-minded individuals who shared similar cultural and social backgrounds. Unfortunately, many Black students at the college I attended did not make it through their undergraduate experience. Many were able to do so because of the strength of the student community and a select few faculty and staff members who made it their mission to see us through to the finish line. I want all Black students in California to start and get through the finish line, and SB 1348 is a game changer for Black Student Success.
Dr. Antonio Banks is the Director of Black and Males of Color Success Initiative at Compton College.
