Now that the door is closing

Higher Education on the Brink Final Draft This ENLACE report alerts legislators in Florida of potential (real) impacts on college access for students seeking admissions to the state’s public universities. 

This is a good time for community leaders to watch out for and guide students who have the academic potential to prepare for college success.  This is a great time at the local level for this type of affirmative action—and strategic leadership—now that the door to higher education opportunities at state universities is closing.

A relatively small pool of black students who live in key urban zip codes still may benefit from the limited enrollment opportunities in the years ahead.  For them to do so, though, it will take some hard work on their part and on the part of those who serve as advocates for them.

In zip code 33610 for example, there are over 60 black, faith-based organizations.  Hard work may result in 10 black females and 10 black males from the zip code receiving acceptance letters from state universities each year.

Vigilance is key.  Nothing states that the local public education system has to produce this outcome.  Nothing states that local churches will go out of business if the zip code does not produce 20 competitive applicants for state universities each year.  The systems in place can still blame students, parents, schools—and legislators—for not producing this outcome.

Perhaps future ENLACE and other reports will highlight affirmative actions taken by community leaders to help minority students gain access to the dwindling number of seats available at state universities.