Whittier College is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country. Currently, 63 percent of Whittier Students identify as students of color and over 50 percent of Whittier employees are persons of color.
Yet, according to the Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) Jenny Guerra, more work is needed to ensure that all studentscan equally benefit from a Whittier education. With this goal in mind, the OEI launched a special initiative this fall that provides additional support to men of color, a particularly vulnerable group of students.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, across the country men of color are graduating at noticeably lower rates than their peers. At Whittier, data from fall 2016 shows that six-year graduation rates for men of color are 29 percent for African-Americans, 59 percent for Latinx, and 40 percent for Asians.
The Brotherhood Leadership Program—which enrolled eight students for its pilot year—provides participants with an in-depth introduction to Whittier College designed to ensure students make a successful transition to college life. During the academic year, students will also attend workshops on financing college, career and life path exploration, academic success, and successful study skills, among other topics.
“The Brotherhood Leadership Program has four main goals: provide a safe space and sense of community and solidarity; support and challenge men of color to achieve academic success; support and encourage participants to engage with the College community; and promote involvement and inclusion in leadership opportunities,” said Guerra.
The OEI plans to expand the program for the next academic year.