By Cynthia Hubert

April 24, 2024

Sacramento State will receive $250,000 from the California State University to help establish the nation’s first Black Honors College.

The award is part of the CSU’s systemwide initiative to implement programs that promote Black student success.

Sac State will welcome its inaugural Black Honors College class in fall 2024. The college will offer high-achieving students of all races, cultures and majors a comprehensive curriculum focusing on the Black and African American experience. One of the college’s key goals is to improve access, retention and graduation rates for those students.

“We are committed to increasing the opportunities for Black students to attain the life-changing benefits of a CSU degree, and that can only begin when we are accountable to each other and to our students.” -- Dilcie Perez, deputy vice chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs

The CSU funds will support faculty members who launch programs within the college, said Sac State President Luke Wood.

“The funds from the California State University will directly support faculty who will teach in the nation’s first Black Honors College and provide release time for work to implement the original program offerings,” he said.

A CSU report issued last year that reflected information from all 23 of the system’s universities identified barriers to Black student success as well as strategies for addressing them.

“The Black Student Success report showed our Black and African American students don’t feel as supported on their academic journey,” Wood said. “After arriving at Sacramento State, I knew it was time to launch something innovative that highlighted Black success and excellence.”

Sac State enrolls more Black and African American students than any university in the CSU system, Wood noted. The Black Honors College will feature specialized general education courses with smaller classes and faculty members who have a record of success serving Black students.

The award to Sac State is part of $4.6 million in funding the CSU announced on Tuesday, money that will support efforts across the system to help Black students achieve their academic goals.

Dilcie Perez, deputy vice chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs, said projects include campus immersion programs, guaranteed admission, community partnerships, cluster hiring, and advancing faculty and staff retention and promotion efforts.

“We commend the universities for participating in a frank self-assessment of campus offerings, which highlighted areas of strength as well as opportunities for growth, cross-campus and collaboration and innovation in supporting Black students,” Perez said.

“We are committed to increasing the opportunities for Black students to attain the life-changing benefits of a CSU degree, and that can only begin when we are accountable to each other and to our students.”