Black Servingness Institution
A New Designation for a Commitment CSUDH Already Fulfills
CSUDH already meets the standard set by the State of California to qualify as a “Black serving institution”—a new initiative intended to recognize and support colleges and universities that excel at educating Black students.
But looking only at a numerical thresholds, such as the number of Black students enrolled at an institution, doesn’t tell the whole story of “servingness,” as President Thomas A. Parham notes.
“Servingness involves providing Black students with resources and surrounding them with a cultural ambiance that allows space for their cultural heritage to be elevated in ways that profoundly support and affirm their individual dignity, humanity, and sense of belonging,” Parham says.
#1
among public universities in CA in awarding bachelor’s degrees to African Americans
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education
Black servingness is rooted in the notion that Black student excellence is interdependent with the success and development of Black faculty, staff, and administrators. The CSUDH model rests on three pillars: supporting the professional development of Black faculty, staff, and administrators; a dedication to recruiting, retaining, and graduating Black students; and creating a holistic approach to enhancing the development of scholars and professionals, nurturing the development of the whole individual.
Black professionals at CSUDH have played a critical role of nurturing Black students’ academic success, elevating their professional development and intentionally building bridges to connect scholars to career opportunities. Our Black professional leadership serves as a model of excellence and promotes success for all students.
Signature Programs & Resources:
- Mervyn M. Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute: Featuring initiatives like the Dymally Distinguished Speakers Series, Digital Archives, International Jazz and Arts Festival, Millennial & Gen Z Symposium, Dymally Fellows, and film/media projects.
- Black Resource Center (BRC): Enhancing the college experience with academic, personal, and professional support services.
- Male Success Alliance (MSA): Focused on boosting access, retention, and graduation rates for young men of color.
- Sisters United: Mentorship pairing Black female students with Black faculty and staff for academic and personal support.
- CSU Young Males of Color Consortium: Campus-based initiatives to develop educators and strengthen success strategies for young Black males.
Noteworthy Features:
- Home to the first Black Women’s Think Tank.
- Annual Empowerment Summit (co-hosted by KJLH radio) for personal and professional growth.
- Dynamic Black faculty across diverse majors.
- Culturally rich curriculum with departments like African Studies.
- Annual on-campus African American Leaders of Tomorrow summer institute, presented with the assistance of the California Legislative Black Caucus.
- Aware, informed, and culturally conscious staff and administration.
- Campus resources and programs welcome all participants, regardless of race, sex, gender, ethnicity, or national origin.
