College Resources for Minority Students

Become Team

Become Team

November 17, 2020

Margarita Cavazos-Chappell identifies as Mexican-American, a feminist and a first-generation college student. She serves as the instructor/coordinator with the Grand Valley State Academy TRIO Upwardly Leap program. Margarita received her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Western Michigan University and her Master of Social Piece of work from the University of Michigan. Her masters' degree focus was on community organizing and youth development. She has worked in the fields of juvenile justice, youth evolution, college access and pedagogy.

Minority students seeking college education have more options and support than they might recall. According to a 2011 study by the American Council on Education, overall college enrollment grew 10 percentage over 20 years, and minority enrollment grew 56 per centum over x years; however, the percentage of white students in higher education still heavily outweighs all other minority groups combined. Given that the minority population is fix to overtake the majority within 30 years, information technology's important to address the disparities in education. Through recommendations by groups similar the Young Invincibles, federal initiatives and steps individual colleges are taking to increment minority enrollment and success, this gap can be airtight. College-seeking minorities should tap into all available resource—a sampling of which has been narrowed down past category below— to ensure a fruitful education and transition into their chosen profession.

Resource Roundup

Such a diversity of resource are available to minorities seeking college instruction that they take been divided into categories: Education & Advocacy; Housing, Food & Living; National Resources; Campus Resources; and Career/Task Resources & Networking. These resources cover topics ranging from fiscal readiness tools, grants that could encompass housing and food expenses, political involvement and student organizations. Because many minority students may be the first in the family unit to go to college, kickoff-generation student information has been included.

Education & Advocacy

  • Race and Ethnicity equally a Barrier to Opportunity: A Blueprint for Higher Instruction Equity.

    Young Invincibles' written report details the disparities of minorities' educational opportunities, college graduation rates and success post-graduation while issuing federal recommendations. This commodity helps sympathize some of the problems minorities confront in higher education.

  • How Can We Amend College Success for Underserved Students? Through Early, Sustained, and Multifaceted Back up.

    This Education Solutions Initiative through NYU outlines strategies that would better underserved students' higher success: early intervention, transitional back up and sustained support.

  • Young Invincibles.

    Young Invincibles aims to help young people take a greater phonation in politics and promotes economical well-existence of the generation. One focus of the group is promoting diversity, and college pedagogy is 1 of the four main issues they tackle.

  • American Council on Education.

    The American Council on Education seeks to address the issues surrounding equal opportunities for minorities and underserved populations on U.Southward. college campuses.

  • The Techstars Foundation.

    The foundation aims to create more multifariousness in the tech entrepreneur world through collaborations with non-profits, corporations and individuals to provide grants, scholarships and sponsorships.

  • Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

    Through scholarships, programs, talent sourcing and advocacy, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund serves as a voice for historically black colleges and universities and their students.

  • Are You a First-Generation College Student?

    Start-generation college students, which includes minority students of low-income or immigrant parents, tin can detect facts and expert tips through the Community for Accredited Online Schools for success in higher and beyond.

  • Scholarships & Financial Assist for Minority Students.

    LearnHowToBecome.org covers the necessary details pertaining to minority students obtaining college teaching, namely how to prepare financially for college and related costs through expert advice.

  • American Indian Higher Education Consortium.

    The 38 U.S. Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) are united through the consortium to address policies relating to American Indian higher teaching.

  • Demos: Higher Teaching.

    Demos, a public policy arrangement dedicated to equality, has a section of publications devoted to Higher Instruction. These comprehend topics such every bit college without debt, loan types and risks and detailed student debt and financial security manufactures by race.

Housing, Food & Living

  • National Urban League.

    One of the National Urban League's programs is devoted to housing and customs evolution, which provides tools of fiscal literacy, foreclosure prevention and homeownership preparation.

  • Pell Grant.

    The federal Pell Grant program awarded through the U.S. Section of Education is a needs-based grant that allocates money based partially on housing and living expenses, in improver to other schooling-related costs.

  • Pupil Back up Services Program.

    Another federal U.S. Department of Pedagogy-awarded grant plan, which may be combined with the Pell Grant, assists students in all educational avenues, as well as providing temporary housing for low-income or homeless students during higher breaks.

  • Sublet.com.

    This website connects college students in need of housing to cheaper alternatives than renting homes and apartments. Students search the subletting results in their desired surface area for complimentary.

  • two-1-1.

    Anyone in the U.S. needing assist with a diversity of services, including food and nutrition, housing and utilities, can detect their local 2-1-ane organization and encounter if they qualify for assistance.

  • Feeding America.

    Students can search through a nationwide database of community nutrient banks to observe a location nearby. Feeding America strives to fight hunger in the U.Southward. by providing gratuitous food to those who authorize.

  • American Campus Communities.

    Students can find off-campus living at a variety of price points by searching the ACC listings for local apartment listings specifically serving higher educatee communities.

  • Housing Dominance of the Cherokee Nation.

    The College Housing Assistance Program awards funds to students in need of financial help for housing while enrolled total-fourth dimension toward their get-go bachelor'southward degree.

  • UNCF Higher Readiness.

    The United Negro College Fund not simply provides a host of scholarships for black students but too college readiness resources, which impact financial education, and how to apply for fiscal assist.

  • FAFSA.

    The Complimentary Application for Federal Student Assist is a needs-based financial aid program. If a qualified student receives FAFSA help, that money may exist used on housing and nutrient expenses with any money left over after first paying tuition and fees.

National Resources

  • Upwards Bound.

    The U.S. Department of Education's program takes high school students either from depression-income families or with parents who practice not take a bachelor's caste and helps them set for their higher education pursuits.

  • Function of Postsecondary Education—Programs.

    This U.S. Department of Education function lists programs and colleges related to Native American, black, Asian and other minority students' interests and needs.

  • College Admission Challenge Grant Program.

    This DOE plan'due south grant services include preparing low-income students for success in college teaching and provides career prep, financial prep, FAFSA assistance or student loan assistance.

  • Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund.

    The APIASF provides scholarships to eligible students who are more than likely to be low-income or poverty-level, be the first in the family to attend college or otherwise correspond the underserved community.

  • Hispanic Clan of Colleges & Universities.

    HACU members receive services related to scholarships, internships, exchange student opportunities, professional development and access to conferences and events. HACU represents more than than 470 colleges in the U.South., Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain.

  • Gates Millennium Scholars Program.

    The scholarship plan aims to financially aid qualified minorities to complete degrees in the fields of information science, teaching, engineering, library scientific discipline, mathematics, public health and the sciences, where minority populations are underrepresented.

  • National Indian Educational activity Association.

    Pupil members of the NIEA benefit from community resource aimed at helping Indian students succeed in school to scholarship and college and career prep resource.

  • Poise Foundation Post-Secondary Scholarships.

    These scholarships are geared toward helping African-Americans who meet a variety of criteria from financial need to descendants of slaves or from specific areas to fund their college or other post-secondary schooling.

  • Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

    HSIs, a term used by the U.Southward. Department of Educational activity, are accredited college education institutions that have a Hispanic population of 25 percent or more. HSIs seek to make successful post-secondary teaching for Hispanics a reality.

  • Historically Black Colleges & Universities.

    Detect a listing of HBCUs on the U.S. Department of Education website. HBCUs are accredited universities that provide an education to students of all races just with specific history and programs that benefit African-Americans.

Campus Resource

  • Blastoff Pi Omega sorority.

    This American Indian-founded sorority has 21 chapters across the U.Due south. One of the sorority'south missions is to preserve the members' Native American heritage.

  • National Pan-Hellenic Quango.

    The council is a collection of historically minority-based Greek sororities and fraternities that aim to provide a sense of community, strive for bookish excellence and requite back to the community.

  • National Blackness Student Marriage.

    The NBSU works to raise blackness undergrad students' higher experience. The NBSU has 23 collegiate members across the U.South.

  • American Indian Educatee Clan.

    While at that place is no organized national AISA, many campuses across the U.S. have an association past this same name. AISA strives to preserve their civilization and brainwash other students about it.

  • League of United Latin American Citizens.

    LULAC campus organizations mirror the national clan's goals of obtaining equal education by Latinos. LULAC hosts an annual youth briefing in the jump.

  • SACNAS.

    The Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Scientific discipline chapters can be plant in colleges nationwide. SACNAS fosters education of these cultural groups to be prepared for professional person Stalk careers.

  • Multicultural Student Spousal relationship.

    This college cultural social club is not connected through a main organization; however, organizations get by this name or a like one at many higher education institutions. The MSUs encourage heritage sharing and professional development.

  • Capoeira.

    A club that's gaining momentum at a number of U.South. colleges is capoeira, an African-Brazilian martial art that combines trip the light fantastic toe, music and acrobatics. Students can learn its cultural history while benefiting from the fettle attribute.

  • Sabor Latino.

    While there is no national organization, some colleges cull to gloat Latino civilization through Sabor Latino dance clubs or events.

  • National Society of Black Engineers.

    Black undergrad and grad educatee engineers qualify for the student membership choice of NSBE, which assists with college prep and hosts scholarships, networking and events.

Career/Job Resource & Networking

  • INROADS.

    INROADS provides educational and employment support to high-achieving students, including services such every bit mentoring, paid internships, coaching sessions and workforce solutions. Eighty percentage of members are start-generation college students.

  • Jackie Robinson Foundation.

    The foundation awards scholarships and fellowships and provides additional support services through its "42 Strategies for Success" curriculum, mentoring and job placement, among other resources.

  • Asian American Journalists Association.

    The AAJA is devoted to promoting newsroom multifariousness by connecting Asian-American and Pacific Islander journalists with task opportunities in the field. This service is available with a membership, which is $25 for students.

  • Professional Diversity Network.

    This job connection resource is designed to encounter the needs of employers looking for workers of a specific race to promote diversity in the workplace. The resource has vii elements, including ones specifically for Hispanics, blacks and Asians.

  • NAACP Job Finder.

    The NAACP job finder tool helps minorities discover career opportunities through employers who value diversity. The NAACP also hosts networking events and conferences.

  • National Blackness MBA Clan.

    Despite the name, the association is not limited to merely black members with MBAs, though many are; the organization promotes professional development through conferences, training and job resource.

  • Minorities in Media Connect.

    Marketers, journalists and creatives of color who are mid-level professionals or in a higher place tin observe advanced and leadership positions in the field through this arrangement.

  • National System of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

    NOBLE connects blacks in constabulary enforcement to career opportunities, training conferences and events, networking and an online training center.

  • National Association of Asian American Professionals.

    NAAAP organizes career fairs, job listings, conferences, virtual training programs and links to employee resources groups. NAAAP connects members who are community- and career-driven.

  • National Congress of American Indians.

    NCAI, the oldest and largest American Indian and Alaskan Native organization, covers a broad range of issues affecting natives. NCAI also provides fellowships and internships, scholarships and job listings, among other resources.

Spotlight: Colleges that Focus on Minority Students

Minority students have many factors to consider when choosing the schoolhouse that is right for them. This list of colleges encompasses components that may exist of involvement, ranging from schools that cater to specific minority populations, institutions with a higher-than-average minority make-upwards or colleges with special focus on recruiting minorities and ensuring their bookish advancement.

  • Brown University.

    The Minority Peer Counselor Plan (MPC), created in 1973, connects start-twelvemonth minority college students to their upperclassman peer mentors. The MPC hosts workshops on race, class, sexism and homophobia.

  • University of Texas—San Antonio.

    This Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) is defended to its multicultural community, which is 52 percent Hispanic, and ranks every bit 1 of the all-time colleges in the U.S. for minorities, veterans and women.

  • Northeastern State Academy.

    The university's rich Cherokee Nation history contributes to its twenty percentage American Indian or Alaskan Native makeup of the student body. NSU promotes equality in education and enrichment experiences.

  • Salish Kootenai College.

    The college provides higher education and community and for Native Americans and seeks to preserve the history of the Confederated Tribes of the Flathead Nation.

  • Haskell Indian Nations University.

    The university provides a tuition-costless instruction to American Indians and Alaskan Natives through funding from the Bureau of Indian Didactics. Students pay only fees per semester.

  • Clemson University.

    Clemson's Minority Student Success Initiative strives to requite minorities the tools they demand to perform well in school and increment the academy's minority graduation charge per unit.

  • City College of San Francisco.

    The Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) is made up of 73 pct minorities and runs an Equal Access to Success Emergency Task Force.

  • University of Maryland—College Park.

    Another AANAPISI schoolhouse, the university runs a Multifariousness programme directed toward retention and success of multicultural staff and students to ameliorate serve the population.

  • Spelman College.

    Spelman is a historically black college for African-American women. The National Science Foundation has recognized information technology equally the leading producer of black female person doctorate earners in the sciences.

  • Harvard College.

    The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations sponsors programs and events that promote intercultural awareness. In addition, the college has a First Generation Programme teaching higher awareness for first-generation college students.

  • Columbia College.

    The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee hosts training and events and related clubs and organizations. In addition, each undergrad must complete a multicultural grade.

  • Westward Texas A&M Academy.

    The Diversity and Inclusion Office's Excellence Through People program seeks to increase the number of minority students past providing tools and environs with which to succeed.

  • University of California.

    UC-HBCU Initiative's Fellowship Plan partners with historically black colleges with research collaborations and seeks to increase the number of minority Ph.D. students. The college too has a FirstGen program for first-generation students.

  • University of North Dakota.

    The university' takes role in federal TRIO programs similar Upward Bound and Talent Search, which provide skills, groundwork, preparation and fiscal support to first-generation, underprepared or disadvantaged students.

  • Stanford University.

    While 33 pct of the student population is white, the other two-thirds is a blend of ethnicities. Its Community Centre Resources include centers for Asian-Americans, blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and first-generation students.

What Colleges Tin Do to Better Advocate for Minorities

Many colleges are already taking steps to recruit and hire minority students and staff; however, the disparity is nevertheless in that location. Amidst the best means for colleges to abet for minorities include mental health awareness, social and cultural events and even creating scholarships or altruistic to causes that make higher educational activity more obtainable for minorities. Margarita Cavazos-Chappell, an instructor and coordinator with Grand Valley Land Academy TRIO Upward Spring programme, lent her voice to the effect.

  • "Listen to students of color, hear their stories and experiences and create spaces for them to share, be heard and believed."

  • "Admit national and local news of violence, oppression and injustice against people of color. Accept a moment of silence, a day off, provide prophylactic spaces to talk and gratuitous counseling. These events are traumatizing and often ignored past PWIs (predominantly white institutions)."

  • "Provide mental health awareness and resources designed for students of color." The college students that Cavazos-Chappell contacted thought this was the well-nigh important gene.

  • "Hire people of color—professors, counselors, admissions and financial aid representatives and directorate." She referred to an IZA Constitute of Labor Economics study that discovered a profound positive event of a minority having a instructor of color early in their education.

  • "Learn about the campus climate for students of color: Is information technology a friendly identify? A hostile identify? A disconnected place? A welcoming place? Determine why and create steps toward a solution."

  • "Create a culture of inclusion. Ofttimes students of color may exist the merely one in a classroom full of white people and tin can feel like they do non vest. How and where are you recruiting?" Information technology'southward important for students to be with "their people," whatever that looks like, to have a back up arrangement to get through tough times.

  • "Educate campus police, academy staff and residence hall staff on racial profiling and inherent bias."

  • "Host social and cultural events representing backgrounds and interests of students of colour." Examples include notable speakers, concerts and entertainment of minority interests, international food festivals and education virtually Juneteenth.

  • "Develop campus programs designed for students of color focused on academic and personal back up, customs and retention. Examples at Yard Valley State Academy are Laker Familia and Black Excellence."

  • "Determine the needs of students of color on your campus and ways to support them voiced by them. Consider the quote, 'Nothing virtually united states, without us, is for us.'"

Fiscal Aid Resources for Student Minorities

For more than data on financial aid, please encounter the below links:

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