A Blueprint for Action: Higher Education

VIII: Higher Education

Preamble: Recognizing that higher education is essential for success in the post-industrial world, we reaffirm the pluralism and diversity of the American post-secondary system as an instrument for maximizing the opportunity to learn, graduate, and function competently in a global society. Therefore, we commit to:

ACTION ITEMS IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES

Students will:
A. Accept responsibility for participation in all activities designed to ensure graduation. 1. Attend all scheduled classes, participate in class activities, and complete all class assignments.

2. Actively seek and participate in academic support services such as study groups, tutoring, and faculty advisement.

3. Form networks with other African-American students to enhance self-esteem and to build mutual support.

4. Serve as a mentor or tutor for other African-American students at any level -- elementary, secondary and collegiate.

B. Understand rights and responsibilities relative to acquiring the best education possible. 1. Attend and participate in pre-college and college orientation activities.

2. Read the institutional publications on policies and procedures (e.g., college catalogue, student handbook).

3. Learn protocol and procedures for obtaining accurate academic advisement.

4. Become lifelong learners.

Faculty and Administration will:
A. Increase recruitment retention through graduation of African-American students by 10%: each year over the next 10 years. 1. Adopt or establish partnerships with K-12 schools with large numbers of African-American students and provide ongoing activities and programs so that college becomes a natural extension of their K-12 programs.

2. Provide comprehensive pre-college and in-college student support services.

3. Increase financial assistance (e.g., work/study opportunities, scholarships, tuition remission, assistantships, financial aid packages).

4. Provide adequately trained peer and faculty mentors and tutors.

5. Support student-formed study groups by providing access to campus facilities on a flexible schedule.

6. Support centers and clubs that enhance ethnic pride while encouraging participation in all aspects of college life.

7. Establish a systematic means of providing support and reinforcement for students who are experiencing academic difficulty.

8. Assess conventional staffing patterns and practices and determine changes necessary to better challenge and prepare faculty/staff/administrators who interact with African-American students.

9. Provide ongoing training and assessment that will enhance the sensitivity of faculty/staff/administrators who interact with African-American students.

10. Provide incentives for faculty who are successfully teaching and mentoring African-American students.

11. Recruit and retain more African-American faculty/staff/administrators dedicated to better serve all the students.

12. Forge formal partnerships with such organizations as the National Alliance of Business (NAB), Association of Black Psychologists, American Medical Association, Future Teachers of America, National Organization of Black Chemists, Chemical Engineers, National Association of Black Accountants, et al., to provide professional contacts and on-the-job experiences for each student.

13. Establish a process to ensure academic support from Grade 8 to post-secondary matriculation or journeyman certification.

B. Produce qualified, competent, knowledgeable, caring teachers for elementary and secondary schools. 1. Meet professional standards set by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) for teacher education programs.

2. Work cooperatively with colleges/departments of liberal arts and sciences to ensure high-quality instructor in content courses that also stress application of the subject matter to elementary and secondary school classes.

3. Develop inquiry-based teaching strategies that encourage students as questioners, decision-makers, and problem solvers.

4. Instruct pre-service personnel in effective classroom management techniques and skills that are grounded in research-based effective teaching and learning strategies.

5. Instruct pre-service personnel in child development and learning, curriculum development, planning, instruction, and assessment so that they are equipped to instruct the young, fairly interpret student behavior, avoid misdiagnosis, miseducation, and inappropriate tracking.

6. Enforce rigorous standards for teacher preparation, including understanding of racial, cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds of America's diverse population so that they may interact effectively with all students, their parents, and professional colleagues.

C. Accept the responsibility for maintaining a safe, drug-free, peaceful campus. 1. Allow no weapons or illegal drugs on campus.

2. Accept and act appropriately on reports of weapons from student, faculty and staff.

3. Teach methods of conflict resolution and mediation.

4. Distribute substance abuse prevention, treatment, and anti-violence literature.

Parents and families will:
A. Encourage and support their student's enrollment and graduation from post-secondary institutions. 1. Become familiar with the academic requirements needed for post-secondary enrollment, and ensure the completion of these classes in high school.

2. Become familiar with available scholarships and other financial resources; know the application process and meet the timelines.

3. Monitor the students progress in post-secondary institutions. Young adults still need guidance and support.

4. Encourage students to take full advantage of the post-secondary years, and participate in a variety of activities.

5. Encourage academic excellence.

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ACTION ITEMS	IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
Students will: A. Accept responsibility for participation in all activities designed to ensure graduation.	1. Attend all scheduled classes, participate in class activities, and complete all class assignments. 2. Actively seek and participate in academic support services such as study groups, tutoring, and faculty advisement. 3. Form networks with other African-American students to enhance self-esteem and to build mutual support. 4. Serve as a mentor or tutor for other African-American students at any level -- elementary, secondary and collegiate.
B. Understand rights and responsibilities relative to acquiring the best education possible.	1. Attend and participate in pre-college and college orientation activities. 2. Read the institutional publications on policies and procedures (e.g., college catalogue, student handbook). 3. Learn protocol and procedures for obtaining accurate academic advisement. 4. Become lifelong learners.
Faculty and Administration will: A. Increase recruitment retention through graduation of African-American students by 10%: each year over the next 10 years.	1. Adopt or establish partnerships with K-12 schools with large numbers of African-American students and provide ongoing activities and programs so that college becomes a natural extension of their K-12 programs. 2. Provide comprehensive pre-college and in-college student support services. 3. Increase financial assistance (e.g., work/study opportunities, scholarships, tuition remission, assistantships, financial aid packages). 4. Provide adequately trained peer and faculty mentors and tutors. 5. Support student-formed study groups by providing access to campus facilities on a flexible schedule. 6. Support centers and clubs that enhance ethnic pride while encouraging participation in all aspects of college life. 7. Establish a systematic means of providing support and reinforcement for students who are experiencing academic difficulty. 8. Assess conventional staffing patterns and practices and determine changes necessary to better challenge and prepare faculty/staff/administrators who interact with African-American students. 9. Provide ongoing training and assessment that will enhance the sensitivity of faculty/staff/administrators who interact with African-American students. 10. Provide incentives for faculty who are successfully teaching and mentoring African-American students. 11. Recruit and retain more African-American faculty/staff/administrators dedicated to better serve all the students. 12. Forge formal partnerships with such organizations as the National Alliance of Business (NAB), Association of Black Psychologists, American Medical Association, Future Teachers of America, National Organization of Black Chemists, Chemical Engineers, National Association of Black Accountants, et al., to provide professional contacts and on-the-job experiences for each student. 13. Establish a process to ensure academic support from Grade 8 to post-secondary matriculation or journeyman certification.
B. Produce qualified, competent, knowledgeable, caring teachers for elementary and secondary schools.	1. Meet professional standards set by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) for teacher education programs. 2. Work cooperatively with colleges/departments of liberal arts and sciences to ensure high-quality instructor in content courses that also stress application of the subject matter to elementary and secondary school classes. 3. Develop inquiry-based teaching strategies that encourage students as questioners, decision-makers, and problem solvers. 4. Instruct pre-service personnel in effective classroom management techniques and skills that are grounded in research-based effective teaching and learning strategies. 5. Instruct pre-service personnel in child development and learning, curriculum development, planning, instruction, and assessment so that they are equipped to instruct the young, fairly interpret student behavior, avoid misdiagnosis, miseducation, and inappropriate tracking. 6. Enforce rigorous standards for teacher preparation, including understanding of racial, cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds of America's diverse population so that they may interact effectively with all students, their parents, and professional colleagues.
C. Accept the responsibility for maintaining a safe, drug-free, peaceful campus.	1. Allow no weapons or illegal drugs on campus. 2. Accept and act appropriately on reports of weapons from student, faculty and staff. 3. Teach methods of conflict resolution and mediation. 4. Distribute substance abuse prevention, treatment, and anti-violence literature.
Parents and families will: A. Encourage and support their student's enrollment and graduation from post-secondary institutions.	1. Become familiar with the academic requirements needed for post-secondary enrollment, and ensure the completion of these classes in high school. 2. Become familiar with available scholarships and other financial resources; know the application process and meet the timelines. 3. Monitor the students progress in post-secondary institutions. Young adults still need guidance and support. 4. Encourage students to take full advantage of the post-secondary years, and participate in a variety of activities. 5. Encourage academic excellence.