REVOLUTION:
(RE)DEFINING BLACK STUDENT SUCCESS

12-1pm PT

This session examines the rise of Black Serving Institutions (BSIs) in California, tracing the historical context and policy evolution through Senate Bill 1348, followed by the rapid growth of BSI-designated institutions across the state. Participants will hear directly from leaders at BSI colleges about how they are operationalizing Black Servingness. This conversation will explore how California institutions are adapting policy to drive campus-level transformation and redefine what it means to lead with intentionality in service of Black student success.

12-1pm PT

This session asserts return on investment (ROI) and economic mobility as critical measures of Black student success. Speakers will examine how institutions must shift their framing away from access-focused metrics toward outcomes that produce true economic mobility. Through a discussion of completion, workforce alignment, wages, and long-term mobility, this conversation challenges higher education to redefine ROI as a structural commitment that ensures Black students experience tangible economic returns upon completion.

12-1pm PT

Transfer-level math remains one of the most significant academic barriers to completion for many students. This session focuses on teaching and learning strategies that support Black students’ success in these courses. Participants will learn how math pathways can be intentionally structured to accelerate progress, close completion gaps, and align instructional practice with Black Servingness. Panelists will discuss policy, pedagogy, and institutional redesign efforts that remove structural barriers while maintaining rigor.

12-1pm PT

In this session, we will present findings from the 2025 Real College Basic Needs Survey, using disaggregated data to illustrate the most significant barriers faced by postsecondary students, including Black and African American students. This session will explore how institutions must operationalize support for food, housing, mental health, and financial stability needs, and develop these resources as part of institutional infrastructure rather than peripheral services. This discussion reframes student support as an institutional responsibility central to Black Servingness.

12-1pm PT

The closing session will focus on statewide student success outcomes for Black students. Participants will engage with current data on access, completion, transfer, and outcomes to assess both progress and the gaps that persist. The conversation will explore how institutions can use transparent, disaggregated data to drive improvement, inform policy, and advocate for sustained investment to continue driving outcomes for students and graduates. Finally, the session will advocate for documenting Black student success to ensure its continued growth and visibility, thereby rewriting and reclaiming the narrative.