The Time is Now to Recognize Black-Serving Institutions

Representatives from all four Los Rios colleges and CSU Sacramento signed memorandums of agreement on Juneteenth signaling our commitment to create a seamless pathway for students to transfer to Sac State's Black Honors College.

The Los Rios Community College District is the second-largest community college district in the state of California. The mission of our colleges and our district is focused on serving and lifting up historically underserved communities and creating opportunities for our diverse student population to succeed in our evolving modern economy. Sacramento area employers are clamoring for a robust and inclusive talent pipeline, one that can fuel our region's ambitious goals for growth and prosperity.

That's why the Los Rios colleges have joined many other California community colleges to support California Senate Bill 1348, which creates a state "Black Serving Institution" designation. The bill aims to support institutions that serve at least 10 percent, or a minimum of 1,500, Black students with additional resources to meet the needs of our students.

The federal government already recognizes both Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific-Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), both designations that all four Los Rios colleges are proud to have earned. These federal designations allow us to apply for grants dedicated to supporting the instructional and wrap-around needs of these specific communities, and by doing so have helped us improve outcomes for all students at our colleges. The time is now for state and federal governments to make the same investment in Black student success. SB 1348 would create this framework at the state level so that the federal government can follow suit.

A 2020 US Census Bureau survey indicated that California has the fifth largest Black population (2.24 million)¹ in the US. California's 116 community colleges enroll 1 out of every 14 Black students who attend a college or university in the nation. Moreover, 1 out of 7 Black community college students nationally attend a California community college.² However, 63 percent of Black community college students do not earn a degree, certificate, or transfer within six years.³

In Los Rios, we serve nearly 6,000 Black students from around our region and offer a wide array of programs of support designed specifically to help them be successful. Three of our four colleges would qualify as Black-Serving Institutions under the proposed definition, and our enrollment continues to grow across all four of our colleges. SB 1348, along with subsequent action by the federal government, has the potential to provide more resources for this critical work.

We are inspired by the work of partners in our region like President Luke Wood and Sacramento State, whose new Black Honors College has a similar laser-like focus on Black student success at our largest transfer partner institution. With a Black-Serving Institution designation, our colleges would be poised to help more students transfer to the new Black Honors College and ultimately reach their dreams of academic success and the life-changing opportunities that come along with that.

California community colleges have long been the home of innovative teaching and learning practices, designed specifically to ensure that everyone in our community has access to a high-quality public higher education. We are the engine that drives our region's economy. With support from the California legislature and the federal government, there is even more we can do to make our economy work for everyone.

Dr. Lisa Cardoza
President, American River College

Dr. Edward Bush
President, Cosumnes River College

Dr. Art Pimentel
President, Folsom Lake College

Dr. Albert Garcia
President, Sacramento City College

Dr. Brian King
Chancellor, Los Rios Community College District

• ¹US Census Bureau - Race and Ethnicity
• ²African American Male Education Network and Development - Institutional Change to Increase African American Male Success
• ³State of Higher Education for Black Californians