On Oct. 18 -19, national community college and university leaders will be speaking at the San Diego College of College of Continuing Education as part of a consortium focused on enhancing success among men of color in community colleges. Registration is free and open to the public until filled.

Titled “Cultivating Strategies for Supporting College Men of Color,” the workgroup launched by the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL), a national research laboratory under the Interwork Institute at San Diego State University (SDSU), aims to bring together higher education leaders who are involved in men of color initiatives to network with colleagues and engage more deeply in topics that are critical to the success and experience of men of color adult learners in the classroom. The event is made possible through a grant from the Lumina Foundation.

Attendees will hear from a college men of color student panel to gain insight into the unique challenges they personally encountered throughout their postsecondary journey. 

Among the session speakers are Dr. J. Luke Wood, President of Sacramento State University, Dr. Helen P. Young, Co-Founder of Pipelines to Possibilities, Dr. Franklin Garrett, Associate Dean of Student Support Services at the San Diego College of Continuing Education, Dr. Karen Stills, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success at Dallas College, Dr. Cristóbal Rodríguez, Associate Provost for Equity-Centered Initiatives in Academic Affairs at Western Michigan University, Dr. Eric R. Felix, Associate Professor in the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation, and Postsecondary Education at SDSU, Hoang Pham, J.D., Director of Education and Opportunity at the Stanford Center for Racial Justice at Stanford Law School, Dr. LaShae Sharp Collins, 79th Assembly District elect and SDSU Adjunct Professor in the Department of Africana Studies, Dr. José Del Real Viramontes, Assistant Professor at the University of California, Dr. Marissa Vasquez, Associate Professor in the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation, and Postsecondary Education at SDSU, and Dr. William Franklin, Founder and Principal Investigator of the California State University Young Males of Color Consortium. 

San Diego College of Continuing Education President Dr. Tina M. King will welcome the highly anticipated speakers and members of the community. After an engaging series of sessions, a community resource fair will take place on Oct. 19, providing valuable information and connections for all attendees.

“San Diego College of Continuing Education is looking forward to welcoming community college and university leaders from across the U.S. to advance equity-centered practices and long-term sustainable strategies and solutions for our students who are the most deserving but have been too often forgotten,” said President King, who leads the largest and longest standing noncredition institution with the only pathway of its kind for adult graduates to transfer to one of the nation’s leading universities for Black students, Sacramento State.

Community colleges have long served as the primary pathway into postsecondary education for historically underserved men of color (e.g., Black, Indigenous/Native American, Latino/x, Pacific Islander, and Southeast Asian). According to EdSource, community college enrollment among Black students across the board fell by 26%, and Black student enrollment in historically Black colleges and universities fell by 16%. Meanwhile, in four-year colleges and universities, there was no increase. And among Black men, college enrollment dropped by 39% between 2011 and 2020.

The Cultivating Strategies for Supporting College Men of Color workgroup will be held in the historic theater at the Educational Cultural Complex (4343 Ocean View Blvd. 92113).
Educators and college students are encouraged to attend, register here. For the full schedule and list of speakers visit, www.cceal.org/national-consortium/2024-working-group-meeting/.