Graduate Deans Summit Meeting

Washington, DCNovember 8, 2013

Outcomes

Structure of the Summit Meeting

Purpose: 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 PWIs

Barriers 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

Programs

“Viable Graduate Programs”Successful 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 students

Transition programs for graduate school

Increase #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 males

Partnerships between PWIs and HBCUs can provide effective channel into Ph.D. Programs

Students often begin planning for graduate school late

Many Black males do not follow the traditional path to graduate school

Possible Approaches

Mentoring and advising students about graduate school

Effective and purposeful department advising

Bridge 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 recipients

Virtual Mentoring Webinar series with Black high school,

undergraduate, and graduate students interacting

Nationally visible successful Black figure as speaker

On-campus leaders to engage students in follow-up discussion on graduate school

Collaborations Between HBCUs and

PWI to Establish Funding to Support

Students and Programs

Recommendations:Develop a catalog of degrees offered at

HBCUsCreate bridge programs and other

partnerships to transition students between HBCUs and PWIs

Recruit undergraduate minority students at PWIs for programs at HBCUs

Intra-institutional and inter-institutional BS-MS dual degree programs at HBCUs and PWIs

Expand research opportunities at PWIs for students from HBCUs

Linking students with research facultyResearch funding for undergraduate students

via supplements to faculty member’s existing grants

Secure funding for students transitioning from MS to PhD: Proposals and supplements to faculty grants

Expand collaborations between PWIs and HBCUs through faculty research collaborations

Create pre-doc and post-doc teacher-training programs using HBCU platforms

Encourage Black Ph.D. graduates to consider careers at HBCUs

Educate the governance structure at HBCUs about the importance of graduate education

Threads/Themes

Building meaningful partnerships between PWIs and HBCUs: Focus on people

Need for bridge programs to provide pipeline and transition support

Need for support and commitment from top administrators and university

Need 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 PWIs

More 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 fruition

Dr. 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 Nwokeafor—Bowie State UniversityPaula McClain—Duke UniversityDwight McBride—Northwestern UniversityGeorge Herts—University of Arkansas-Pine BluffBrian Blake—University of MiamiCarolyn Hodges—University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Patrena Benton--HamptonDorris Robinson-Gardner—Jackson State

UniversityMaria Lima--MeharrySanjiv Sarin—North Carolina A&T State

UniversityKaren Weddle-West—University of MemphisJennifer Keane-Dawes—University of

Maryland Eastern ShoresBetty Clark—Clark-Atlanta University

Gregory Maddox—Texas Southern UniversityMark Smith—Georgia Institute of TechnologyVerian Thomas—Florida A&M UniversityJames Wimbush—Indiana UniversityAnna Holloway—Fort Valley State UniversityMark Garrison—Morgan State UniversityCaesar Jackson—North Carolina CentralDoreen Hilton—Fayetteville State UniversityHenry Frierson—University of Florida

Part II

What’s Next?