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By: Cheryl Smith
January 17, 2007
As president of Cedar Valley Community College, Dr. Jennifer Wimbish continues to stress to youth the importance of education. Beginning immediately, she will increase her efforts to encourage youth to pursue a college education, and preferably at Cedar Valley, but now she will be leading the charge to increase the number of African American males who matriculate at the country’s community colleges.
Dr. Wimbish, along with Dr. Andrew Jones, DCCCD Vice Chancellor for Educational Affairs will be working to create a strategic plan and offer initiatives to deal with a disturbing trend. According to a recent report issued by the President’s Roundtable, a national association of African American College Presidents, there is a growing epidemic— the decline among African American males in college. “We’re going to be meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus and others because we have a crisis,” said Dr. Wimbish, who was selected with Dr. Jones to leaf the effort for the nation. “Sixty percent of African American males who get to the ninth grade do not graduate high school or go on to college.”
In a statement issued last week, it was indicated that “on a national level, the number of African American males (ages 18-24) who chose to attend college as compared to females was (40% males vs. 60% females). This trend also translated into fewer males graduating college, specifically (100 males for every 150 females).” “This is unacceptable, says Dr. Wimbish, and calls for collaborations and initiatives, like mentoring programs. She also pointed to programs, like one being taught by Pastor Rickie Rush, at his church, Dallas’ Inspiring Body of Christ., which she said helps to “reach yet another population” and help the young men to connect to mentors.
Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity applauded Dr. Wimbish’s efforts, saying that their Alpha Ambassadors program is a college preparatory club for young men who they expose to an advance level curriculum that encourages the participants to go to college. “We’re very aware there are a lot of challenges facing our men,” said member Tommy Duncan. “We are helping them to grow and we also have a support group of parents working with us.”
Mr. Duncan and Nu Pi Lambda Graduate Chapter president Gregory Harrell said the organization has also awarded more than $30,000 to area youth since the program began in 1991 “We are looking to grow the program even more,” said Mr. Harrell.
In addition to college tours, and a three-pronged approach to helping young Black men, Mr. Duncan said working with the parents, schools and members of the fraternity, the goal is to make sure the young men are able to think, write and speak. Additionally the young men go through a rites of passage program. Noting Dr. Wimbish’s concerns, Mr. Duncan said his fraternity was also being aggressive in their efforts. “Alpha Phi Alpha is needed now more than ever. We set standards early. They have to be prepared to learn and they have to put aside some distractions.”
Saying she was aware of the fraternity’s initiatives, and said that more information would be available in the future as they intensify efforts at community colleges. “We have to get more young men through high school and on to college,” she said, pointing out that if there are students now who would like to go to school, Cedar Valley can help. “We have registration continuing this week. We want individuals to get to college and we have some scholarship money available.
On a local level, Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) also has alarming evidence that shows it is also in a ‘State of Crisis’ with regards to this rising epidemic. In response to this national epidemic, The DCCCD has already implemented a number of initiatives to aggressively address this decline that include:
Mentoring programs designed for male students
Special focus recruitment and support, activities and events
Special focus classes for male interest Advisement, counseling and tutoring
programs
Grant funded projects that address attraction and retention
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