Think College and the Southeast Postsecondary Education Alliance (SEPSEA) hosted faculty and staff from two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) at the second HBCU Summit in Atlanta, GA. It is a step in creating spaces for HBCUs, predominantly black institutions, and minority serving institutions to learn and grow together to expand postsecondary education opportunities for those with intellectual disability. Currently, just two HBCUs, Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University (Alabama A&M) and Tennessee State University offer programs for students with intellectual disability.
The Summit was attended by individuals representing Think College, SEPSEA, Alabama A&M, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (UAPB), the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities (FCSUA), the Southeast ADA Center, and Directed Analytics. Directed Analytics is currently working with Jackson State University to start an IPSE program. The Summit was supported by the Think College Inclusive Higher Education Network to meet the project’s goal to increase the number of inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs across the nation
Dr. Bea Awoniyi, Assistant Vice President of Students Affairs at Santa Fe College, and Dr. Sharon Brown (pictured above), Director at Bulldog LIFE at Alabama A&M, were the keynote speakers. UAPB brought a team to the Summit to learn the fundamentals of starting an IPSE program. Think College and SEPSEA have been working with other HBCUs who are interested in starting programs to serve students with intellectual disability.
According to Dr. Brown, “Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University, proudly a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), has had the privilege to change the lives for so many students and families living with disabilities, and there are a significant number of black and underserved communities that greatly benefit from Bulldog LIFE (Alabama Council on Disabilities, 2023). The university is proud to meaningfully serve and make an impact in the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities which leads to gainful employment.”
An exciting outcome of the Summit was the establishment of the HBCU IPSE Consortium with Alabama A&M University, UAPB, SEPSEA, and the FCSUA as founding members.
This fall, Think College and SEPSEA will begin to host quarterly meetings of the HBCU IPSE Consortium. The first few meetings will focus on developing a leadership structure for the Consortium as well as setting priorities to support the expansion of IPSE opportunities at HBCUs. Want to be involved? If you are interested in being involved in the HBCU IPSE Consortium, please email susanna.millerraines@umb.edu.