Black Student Equity
Research campaign & report
Ohio’s Black students deserve better.
The Ohio Black Student Equity Report is our contribution to ensuring that Ohioans face the state of racial (in)equity in higher education as it relates to Black students. The report provides a glimpse of Black college students’ experiences throughout Ohio and how colleges and universities can better serve Black students across the state. This report sought to identify the issues Black students face on campus and inform a statewide racial equity policy blueprint and advocacy campaign.
Click here to read the full report.
Key FIndings from the Ohio Black Student Equity Report
We launched a project to survey Black students’ experiences at institutions of higher education statewide, assessing both affordability and equity issues, from tuition and fees to campus policing. We uncovered that Black students are more likely to be first-generation college students and graduate with an average of $25,000 more in student debt than their white counterparts.
Belonging and engagement
Our survey dug into the sentiments of Black students at their institutions. We were interested in whether they felt like they belonged and how their race and other identities shaped their experiences on campus.
Students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) reported less discrimination not only in reference to their race, but also in reference to gender and sexuality.
46% of Black respondents at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) said that their racial identity led to added stress
Campus Policing
While campus police are seen as a normal part of the college campus experience, social justice-oriented scholars and activists have questioned the need. Our research uncovers how campus police can create negative campus experiences and a hostile racial environment for Black students.
17% of Black students experienced a negative interaction with campus police
32% of Black students did not feel safer with the presence of campus police
21% of Black students were made to feel unsafe by campus police
Financial Aid and education Debt
Financial aid plays a central role in the Black collegian’s experiences, so we explored students’ perceptions of student loan debt and financial stability post-graduation.
60% of students, at some point, were worried about their enrollment because of financial aid/money concerns
49% of students were worried about paying back student loans
35% of students stated that they did not receive help from their institution to understand their financial aid packages
Campus environment and basic needs
Campus environments have deep impacts on collegiate life and sense of belonging for Black students. Perhaps the most interesting dynamic in the findings was how students graded their institution relative to their knowledge of available resources.
Only 13% of respondents gave their current institution an “A” grade for how well it is supporting Black students.
Approximately 33% of students gave their institution a B, and another 33% gave their university a C.
Nearly 25% of students affirmed that there are indeed places on campus that Black students should avoid.
Faculty and Administration
Institutional leaders can learn from Black students about their experiences inside and outside the classroom. Investing resources into Black student engagement could be a first step toward improving student perceptions of the institution.
45% of students were unsure whether mental health support staff on their campus were equipped to support Black students.
Nearly 35% of respondents said they did not know where to go if they had issues with faculty members related to their identity, such as race, gender, and sexuality, and more than 25% of respondents were unsure.
54% of students believed at some point they were discriminated against because of their race, with perceptions ranging from “rarely” to “always.
Liked our fight? Join Us!
If you want to get involved in the fight to build a better education for Black Ohioans, you can join or build your local campus chapter! Click the link to get started.
