Building on a pilot from last spring, the Consortium will work this fall with districts participating in EdLeaders Pittsburgh to give middle and high school students exposure to Historically Black Colleges & Universities.
This fall’s program also will provide mentoring sessions with Black and Brown professionals so that they can share their experiences in a range of occupations to give students of color opportunities to learn about different career paths.
Both the HBCU presentations and mentoring will be virtual.
The intent is to acquaint students with higher-ed options that many might not know about and that can offer advantages. For one, HBCUs provide a stable and nurturing environment for those most at risk of not entering or completing college: low-income and first-generation college students, according to a an overview from UNCF.
“Students who are the first in their families to consider college often need a little more support in making the transition from high school,” said Aaron Johnson, Ed.D., the Consortium’s Chief Strategy Officer. “Our HBCU partners are very mindful of that and try hard to make the move to college less daunting.”
In addition, “They’re considered among the best buys in education,” said Program Associate Frank Kamara, who is helping organize the sessions. “HBCU tuition rates average almost 30% less than those at comparable institutions.”