Ivy Tech Joins Minority Consortium
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIvy Tech Community College has joined an organization designed to boost the success of underserved students. The National Consortium on College Men of Color involves programs including school information sharing and webinars.
March 17, 2015
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — Ivy Tech Community College has joined the Minority Male Community College Collaborative (M2C3) National Consortium on College Men of Color. Participation in the M2C3 Consortium will enhance the college's commitment to improving the success of historically underrepresented and underserved students, including men of color.
Despite programs designed to enhance outcomes for men of color, in the United States only 17 percent and 15 percent of Black and Latino men, respectively, earn a certificate, degree, or transfer from a community college to a four-year institution in six years. Figures for men from other ethnic groups (e.g., Native American, Southeast Asian) also indicate an insurmountable need for improvement.
To combat this achievement gap, the M2C3 Consortium facilitates an exchange of ideas between community colleges across the nation on how best to serve men of color in our educational institutions. Community colleges convene to share their efforts and learn about new strategies for enhancing the success of men of color.
As an M2C3 member, Ivy Tech will utilize:
–Access to M2C3 webinars on men on color
–Access to the M2C3 virtual discussion board
–Participation in information-sharing on promising practices with other community college
–Participation in an annual working group meeting hosted in San Diego, CA
Ivy Tech's engagement in M2C3 will enhance professional development for faculty and staff, enable informed interventions for our current programs serving men of color, and inspire new initiatives addressing challenges facing these men.
“Ivy Tech has the greatest higher education impact on the African-American population of Indiana with more than half of African-Americans enrolled in college in Indiana attending Ivy Tech,” said Ivy Tech President Thomas J. Snyder. “We are committed to ensuring we have the proper support systems in place so we can improve retention and education outcomes for these students, and we are excited to be part of this initiative in order to share ideas and best practices.”
“This innovative group of college leaders will be instrumental in implementing cutting-edge practices and policies to address the achievement gap facing underrepresented men,” said Dr. J. Luke Wood, co-director of M2C3.
Launched in February 2015, the M2C3 has already seen much success in information-sharing between community colleges. An average of more than 1,000 consortium members participates in each webinar.
“It is inspiring to see educators collaborate and openly share innovative ideas for serving men of color,” said Frank Harris III, co-director of M2C3. “We look forward to the future of M2C3 and the future success of men of color.”
Ivy Tech Community College is the state's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.
Source: Ivy Tech Community College