作者:辛西娅·休伯特

2024年6月6日

The 加州 state Assembly honored 萨克拉门托 State on June 6 with a floor resolution declaring the University the state’s first Black-Serving Institution.

Lawmakers led by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty put forth the resolution to recognize the University’s ongoing efforts to boost Black enrollment and graduation rates. 囊状态 leaders witnessed the ceremony from a gallery overlooking the Assembly floor.

囊状态 does not qualify for the federal Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) or Predominantly Black Institution designations, which recognize colleges and universities that primarily serve African Americans. But the University enrolls more Black and African American students than any other university in the CSU system and is cultivating programs and initiatives designed to serve them.

About 6% of 囊状态’s student population, 或者接近2,000名学生, 是黑色的, and President Luke Wood has said the University should lead the way in ensuring they succeed in college and beyond.

“This distinctive recognition reaffirms 萨克拉门托 State’s commitment and dedication to serving the needs of our diverse student body, especially for our Black students,伍德说. “I want to express my profound gratitude to the 加州 state Legislature, 萨克拉门托 County and the city of 萨克拉门托 for recognizing us as a Black-Serving institution.”

The resolution comes as the Assembly is considering a bill that would establish a Black-Serving Institution designation for colleges and universities that have a Black student population of at least 10% or 1,500名学生.

Wood pointed out that 囊状态 already is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institution.

“目前, our Black students have to go out of state” to attend a college or university that carries the Predominantly Black Institution or HBCU designation, 他说.

有了决议, “we are publicly saying that we are here to serve Black students, same as our Latinx and Asian students,他说.

与此同时, 囊状态 is ramping up programs to serve Black students, including the first-in-the-nation Black Honors College (BHC), which will welcome its inaugural class in the Fall semester. The BHC will offer high-achieving students of all races, cultures and majors a comprehensive curriculum focusing on the Black and African American experience.

“We are proud to be at the forefront of promoting access, success and excellence for Black students as we begin the first-in-the-nation Black Honors College,伍德说. “We remain committed to advancing equity and social justice in every aspect of our institution.”

囊状态 also has created a Black Success Initiative to address the holistic needs of African American and Black students, 工作人员, 教师和管理人员.