The U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys (CSSBMB) will hold a first quarter business meeting to discuss CSSBMB business. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting will be livestreamed on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ (USCCR) official YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/usccr. Link is subject to change.
Location
Virtual
Agenda
“Closing the Gap: Addressing Declining Black Male Enrollment at HBCUs and Colleges”
Chair: U.S. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson
Commission Director: Marik Xavier-Brier
Meeting Agenda
I. Call to Order & Opening Remarks
5 minutes - Chair Wilson
- Call meeting to order
- Welcome Commissioners, staff, and attendees
- Opening remarks on meeting theme
II. Roll Call & Adoption of Agenda
2 minutes - Chair Wilson
- Roll call of Commissioners
- Presentation and adoption of agenda
- Motion and vote
III. Framing the Theme: “Closing the Gap”
10 minutes - Chair Wilson
- Historical significance of HBCUs for Black male achievement
- Overview of enrollment decline trends and contributing factors
- Setting the framework for discussion and action
IV. Director’s Report: Findings & Operations Update
10 minutes - Director Brier
- Preliminary findings: enrollment decline, gender gap, financial barriers
- K-12 pipeline failures and college readiness disparities
- HBCU institutional challenges and competition from PWIs
- Workforce and cultural pressures on Black male enrollment
- Preliminary recommendations: targeted financial aid, HBCU capital investment, pipeline programs, policy reforms, national awareness campaign
- Operations and dissemination update
V. Commissioners’ Clarifying Questions on Report
5 minutes - All Commissioners
- Clarifying questions on Director’s Report findings and recommendations
VI. Focused Discussion: Reversing the Decline in Black Male Enrollment
10 minutes - Director Brier - (Staff Data Overview – 5 min) / Commissioners (Targeted Discussion – 5 min)
- Staff data overview: enrollment crisis, gender disparity, HBCU financial vulnerability, completion rates, cost of inaction, state disinvestment
- Targeted commissioner discussion on systemic implications and intervention strategies
VII. Open Floor for Commissioners
5 minutes - All Commissioners
- Additional comments, initiatives, and policy recommendations
- Discussion of report recommendations and implementation strategies
VIII. Next Steps & Action Items
10 minutes - Chair Wilson
- Dissemination of findings to Congress, Department of Education, and stakeholders
- Identification of legislative actions: HBCU appropriations, Pell Grant expansion, scholarship programs
- Engagement with HBCU leadership and regional roundtables
- Partnerships with TMCF, UNCF, National Urban League, and My Brother’s Keeper Alliance
- National public awareness campaign planning
- Commissioner advocacy assignments
IX. Adjournment
3 minutes - Chair Wilson
- Final comments
- Closing remarks and adjournment