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BMI   Historical   Overview

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The  Black Male Initiative Program was founded in  2005 by Dr. Ronald Zeigler and Mr. Solomon Comissiong along with two undergraduate student leaders  at the University of Maryland, BSU President Hank Rawlerson and NAACP President, Raheem Dowodo.   The two students were concerned about the paucity of African American Faculty at the University of Marylnad, particularly male role models.  As a result of these student anxieties, low retention levels of African American males, and a need for an intervention to address graduation disparities by race and gender, the Black Male Initiative (BMI) Program was implemented  in Fall, 2005.

 

Initially meetings were held on Saturday mornings at a Conference  Room in the Nyumburu Cultural Center.   Throughout the early years, our monthly meetings (2005 – 2006, 2006 – 2007), were attended by  a small but faithful group of eight to twelve students, along with support from former and current faculty members and administrators as:  Dr. Cordell Black, The late Dr. Ronald Walters, Dr. Ian Williamson, Dr. Joseph Richardson, Dr. Tony Whitehead, and Dr. Robert Waters.  All of these African American Faculty and administrators stressed to the students the importance of pursuing their Bachelors Degrees and graduating from  the University of Maryland.  Along with the academic role modeling, students were offered an opportunity to do the following:  Participate in mentoring programs at local Prince George’s Public Schools,  engage in empowerment activities and programming, learn leadership skills, network with other students and  faculty, and attend social and recreational events (e.g., Professional Basketball Games, Concession Stand Athletic Fundraising,  Barbering Haircut Social ) that enhance bonding and academic persistence.

 

As a result of these events, our attendance has increased from the initial  and second year monthly attendance of 8 – 12 to  30 -35 students in recent years.  In spite of minimal  funding to support the BMI Program and amenities  at meetings, the  student support and attendance has been overwhelmingly positive.   For example,   recent data  (2010 – 2011) further supports the justification for a BMI Program.

 

There were 1, 415 black/African American males enrolled  in Fall,  2010 – Spring, 2011 in their quest to graduate from the University of Maryland.  Oral and written testimonials from African American male students indicate that challenging academic courses, finances, part-time employment, lack of role models,  and feelings of self-doubt are the major variables that impact their graduation.  Thus, the program intervention was designed  to incorporate non cognitive (e.g., attending professional basket ball games, fundraisers) as well as cognitive academic programming as optional study halls, and voluntary mentoring.  Moreover, a concerted effort, with some success, to involve faculty and senior level administrators with the BMI Members has helped  to increase participation and attendance at the BMI Meetings and activities.

 

BMI  Survey

 

Quantitative survey student feedback data  for 2009 – 2010 and 2010 and – 2011 indicated that BMI Members are interested in participating in the BMI Program.  Based on results from 18 Surveys (12 questions), most BMI Members attended meetings for the purpose of interacting with other Black/African American males and meeting Black faculty and staff at the University of Maryland.  83% (15/18) attended BMI Meetings for the purpose of interacting with other black/African Males.  88% (16/18) of the BMI Members want to acquire social, academic, career and other information that will benefit them.  72% (13/18) said that they participated in BMI to develop and utilize leadership skills.  83% of the BMI Members said that they participated in BMI for an opportunity to meet and interact with Black Male Faculty & Staff at the University of Maryland.

 

44% (8/18) of the responding students had not attended one of our BMI Movie Nights, which prompted our staff promote other engaging activities to keep them connected to the program and campus.   Overall, BMI Members felt that their involvement with the BMI Program increased their cultural awareness (88%) (16/18) and  the programmatic activities (i.e., Meetings, mentoring, recreation, dialogues) increased their comfort level (83%) (15/18) on campus.

 

Attendance & Selection

 

 During the academic year, 2010 – 2011, a list-serv of approximately 1,400 African American male students were contacted each month regarding monthly activities and meetings.  There was no restriction on joining the Black Male Initiative Program. Student attendance at the BMI meetings were as follows:  September 7, 2010   29 students, October  5, 2010   18 students,  November 2, 2010  9 students,   February 8, 2011   15 students, March 8, 2011   12 students,   April 5 2011   10  students.     Total of 93  contacts were made for the academic year of black males  attending  the six BMI Meetings.

 

 

 

Accomplishments

 

Based on recent data, the CUM GPA of the average BMI member is 2.7.    Voluntary Study Halls have been initiated to improve this modest yet significant indicator of success.    Our graduates have received  degrees and scholarships   to selective  engineering  schools as the Massachusetts Institute of Engineering, been admitted to medical school, and  law schools.  Other graduates are gainfully employed and doing well in their respective professions.  Additionally  BMI Organizational Accomplishments include the following: 

 

•  Citation from the Washington Post for a successful Mentoring Program at Greenbelt Elementary                School (April,  2009).

 

•  Establishment of the Fred Hampton Scholarship (May, 2011) with donation of $2,000  from a BMI    Alumnus and University of Maryland Graduate.

 

•  a very successful Black Male Initiative Symposium on the State of Black Men/Boys in America was held on  April 16^th, 2011.   Fifty-two registrants  and three students from the BMI Program. attended  this event. Participants came from the University of Maryland and other colleges in the local area.

 

• Fundraising of $13,000  for  Books-To-Africa Program that sent books and computers  to students in Uganda.

 

•   Financial Support of contestants for the Ms. Unity Scholarship Pageant.

 

 

 

•    Assisted the University of Maryland with its improvement of graduation and retention of African American males.