African American Males in College Mississippi Board of Education July 16 Dr. Larry L. Day Mississippi State Board for Community and Junior Colleges Dr. Reginald Sykes Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning

2 African American Males in College Purpose of African American Males in College Task Force To offer recommendations and strategies to increase the enrollment, retention, and graduation rates of African American males in Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Education

3 African American Males in College Task Force Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning State Board for Community and Junior Colleges Mississippi Department of Education Community/Business Leaders

4 African American Males in College Initiative Sub-committees Research - data and trends K-12 - critical issues that impact IHL enrollment Recruitment/Retention - review recruitment, retention, and marketing strategies Best Practices - successful programs Community Relations - identify parents, civic and business leaders/organizations to serve as partners Community/Junior College - strategies in the enrollment, retention and graduation of African American males at Community/Junior Colleges

5 African American Enrollment Trends Nationally, there is a 2 to 1 ratio of African American females to males enrolled in higher education African American males lag behind African American females in degree completion rates African American males trail other groups in society in almost every educational category

6 IHL African American Enrollment Source: IHLMIS, 2009

7 IHL Enrollment by Gender and Ethnicity Source: IHLMIS, 2009 System Enrollment is around 71,000

8 IHL Six-Year Graduation Rates for First-Time, Full-Time Freshmen System Average is 48% Source: IHLMIS, 2009

9 IHL One-Year Retention Rates for First-Time, Full-Time Freshmen System Average is 75% Source: IHLMIS, 2009

10 IHL Average ACT Composite Scores for Entering Freshmen System Average is 21.6 Source: IHLMIS, 2009

Mississippi Public Community and Junior Colleges 1 st Two-Year College System in the Nation Over 70,000 Credit Headcount Enrollment Open Door Admission Policy 34 Locations Across the State 70% of all Freshmen (Public & Private) Attend Community Colleges 50% of all Undergraduates (Public & Private) Attend Community Colleges Community College Transfers Perform As Well As Native IHL Students 33% of all IHL Graduates Attended a Community College

12 Mississippi Community/Junior College African American Enrollment MACJC Annual Report

Mississippi Community/Junior College African American Enrollment Percentage By Curriculum, Fall 2007

Mississippi Community/Junior College African American Enrollment Percentage In A Remedial Course

Mississippi Community/Junior College African American Graduation,

Mississippi Community/Junior College African American Graduation Percentage By Curriculum,

17 Mississippi Department of Corrections Self-Reported Education Level of African American Male Inmates MDC Fact Sheet 2009 Education LevelAfrican American Males GED1,069 Grade 121,535 4 Years College48 Bachelors15 Masters3 Doctoral1 Total2,671(18.5%) As of May 1, ,386 males incarcerated in Mississippi 14,432 African American males incarcerated in Mississippi

18 Task Force Recommendations To craft a model for data collection, database development and analysis that will form the content of recommendations on policies and programs directed for the African American Males in College Initiative To use data and analyses to determine what programs work (i.e. best practices) and those that do not work To review steps, programs and procedures that lead to successful collegiate-level matriculation of African American males To identify essential social resources that measure success (i.e., financial and human) and to identify social determinations that impede successful collegiate-level matriculation

19 Strategies Adopt-a-School Program Summer Programs for Young Scholars Life After High School Tours Identity Programs Speakers Bureau Peer Mentoring Training Provide Leadership Activities Cultural Enrichment and Co-curricular Activities

20 Strategies Expand Involvement in Student Organizations Exposure to other Cultures and Communities Provide Academic Advising and Planning Provide Peer Mentoring Training Assist Community Groups Ongoing Seminars Financial Support from Greek Organizations Utilize Community Programs to Inform Parents

21 Questions