Trustworthy Communication Between Graduate Deans at HBCUs and PWIs Graduate Deans Summit Meeting Washington, DC November 8, 2013

Graduate Deans Summit MeetingWashington, DCNovember 8, 2013OutcomesStructure of the Summit MeetingPurpose: To bring together HBCU graduate deans and black graduate deans from PWIs for forthright discussions and to plan ways to work collaboratively and effectively in addressing issues of common concern.

Method: Worked in 4 groups to generate discussions to produce workable recommendations and plans.

Participants: 22 Graduate Deans from HBCUs and PWIs

Trustworthy Communication Between Graduate Deans at HBCUs and PWIsBarriers to TrustShallow PartnershipsImproper mentoring of students that come to PWIsPWIs focusing on meeting quotas for URMsPWIs bias toward towards the so called pedigree degrees.

Mitigating BarriersMeaningful invested agreements/partnershipsTraining faculty and administrators for mentoring URMsDeans to integrate diversity measures to encourage favorable admissionsIncrease participation in CHBGSIncrease interactions between PWIs and HBCUsMeaningful relationships to break down stereotypes

Approaches to Increase the # of Black Students into Viable Graduate ProgramsViable Graduate ProgramsSuccessful Outcomes: good job opportunities and career advancementAdequate support systemsHigh demand programsGood graduation rates

Approaches:Pipelines/portals/networksPrevious students as ambassadorsPartnerships and alliancesSupport from top administratorsCommitment to student retention and graduationRole of Black Deans at PWIs as change agents

Close relationships between HBCUs and PWIs to recruit and support graduate studentsTransition programs for graduate schoolIncrease #s of Black Ph.D. Recipients with Attention to the Disproportionate # of Black Males

General Points and Observations

Need for funding to recruit and support Black malesPartnerships between PWIs and HBCUs can provide effective channel into Ph.D. ProgramsStudents often begin planning for graduate school lateMany Black males do not follow the traditional path to graduate schoolPossible ApproachesMentoring and advising students about graduate schoolEffective and purposeful department advisingBridge programs at HBCUs focusing on transitioning to the graduate education culture.Undergraduate student workshops about graduate school

Involving Black Males Earning PhD DegreesLead campus workshops for Black men Use of social networks to include graduate studentsPromote the influence of Black male PhD student role models as well as PhD recipientsVirtual Mentoring Webinar series with Black high school, undergraduate, and graduate students interactingNationally visible successful Black figure as speakerOn-campus leaders to engage students in follow-up discussion on graduate school

Collaborations Between HBCUs and PWI to Establish Funding to Support Students and ProgramsRecommendations:Develop a catalog of degrees offered at HBCUsCreate bridge programs and other partnerships to transition students between HBCUs and PWIsRecruit undergraduate minority students at PWIs for programs at HBCUsIntra-institutional and inter-institutional BS-MS dual degree programs at HBCUs and PWIsExpand research opportunities at PWIs for students from HBCUsLinking students with research facultyResearch funding for undergraduate students via supplements to faculty members existing grantsSecure funding for students transitioning from MS to PhD: Proposals and supplements to faculty grants

Expand collaborations between PWIs and HBCUs through faculty research collaborationsCreate pre-doc and post-doc teacher-training programs using HBCU platformsEncourage Black Ph.D. graduates to consider careers at HBCUsEducate the governance structure at HBCUs about the importance of graduate education

Threads/Themes

Building meaningful partnerships between PWIs and HBCUs: Focus on peopleNeed for bridge programs to provide pipeline and transition supportNeed for support and commitment from top administrators and universityNeed to address biases, stereotypes, and diversity in meaningful ways

Threads/Themes

Need for effective mentoring and advisementNeed for collaborations between graduate deans at HBCUs and PWIsResearch opportunities for faculty and students: Collaborations between HBCUs and PWIsMore effective means of show casing the gems at HBCUs: students, faculty, programs, research

Special ThanksDr. Henry Frierson and Dr. Carolyn Hodges for their vision for the summit and bringing it to fruitionDr. Shirley Malcom (American Association for the Advancement of Science) for hosting the meeting

To all graduate school deans who participated in the summit meeting:Cosmos NwokeaforBowie State UniversityPaula McClainDuke UniversityDwight McBrideNorthwestern UniversityGeorge HertsUniversity of Arkansas-Pine BluffBrian BlakeUniversity of MiamiCarolyn HodgesUniversity of Tennessee-KnoxvillePatrena Benton--HamptonDorris Robinson-GardnerJackson State UniversityMaria Lima--MeharrySanjiv SarinNorth Carolina A&T State UniversityKaren Weddle-WestUniversity of MemphisJennifer Keane-DawesUniversity of Maryland Eastern ShoresBetty ClarkClark-Atlanta UniversityGregory MaddoxTexas Southern UniversityMark SmithGeorgia Institute of TechnologyVerian ThomasFlorida A&M UniversityJames WimbushIndiana UniversityAnna HollowayFort Valley State UniversityMark GarrisonMorgan State UniversityCaesar JacksonNorth Carolina CentralDoreen HiltonFayetteville State UniversityHenry FriersonUniversity of FloridaPart IIWhats Next?