SC State launches My Brother’s Keepers initiative to boost male students’ success

 

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – South Carolina State University has formed a new initiative aimed at retaining and graduating more male students.

The My Brother’s Keepers initiative is a coalition of administrators, faculty, staff, and students that will address national disparities in academic success for men. The effort will utilize such strategies as mentoring, workshops, cultural immersion experiences, lecture series and research opportunities.

“We recognize that the success of men on our campus has implications far beyond the individual It affects families, communities, and the future leadership in our society,” said Dr. David Staten, SC State associate provost and associate vice president for academic affairs. “Our goal is to equip these young men with the skills, confidence, and support systems they need to persist through graduation and beyond.”

According to national data, male students consistently achieve academic success at disproportionately lower rates than other groups. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including SC State, are not immune to this national trend.

In response, SC State has developed My Brother’s Keepers to reverse these trends and foster a thriving, supportive environment for male students on campus.

“The My Brother’s Keeper initiative will serve as platform to uplift and encourage the young black men here on our campus,” said SC State senior Kenard Holmes, president of 101 Black Men, a support organization for men at SC State. “There are men who feel left behind, neglected, overlooked, or simply just don’t believe they can be academically excellent and make a change in their lives.

“Opportunity and education are two of the greatest gifts a man can receive, and this initiative will help provide both gifts to the men who make up South Carolina State University,” Holmes said.

My Brother’s Keepers is designed as an interdisciplinary effort, bringing together various departments and divisions throughout SC State. The initiative will be housed in the Student Success Center, where students will have access to comprehensive resources designed to promote their academic and personal growth.

Alongside Staten, the program’s leadership team includes:

• Tyron Clinton, director of the Student Success Center.
• Dr. Samuel Littlejohn, engineering professor.
• Dr. Franklin Pressley, director of Student Life and Leadership.
• Dr. Eric Williams, assistant director of administrative services for the Marching 101 Band.
• Dr. George Johnson, acting chair of the Department of Education.
• Christopher Carraway, an instructor in the College of Business and Information Systems.

Together, these leaders will offer guidance, mentorship, and a variety of programming aimed at empowering male students to stay the course and achieve academic success. They also will rely on the expertise of SC State’s Counseling and Self Development Center led by Director Christian Jackson.

“I thank Dr. Staten and other members of the leadership team for this much-needed focus at South Carolina State University,” SC State President Alexander Conyers said. “The numbers confirm that Black male students often face a different set of hurdles in their paths toward success, so we must do everything within our power to give them the support necessary to achieve their goals.

“I have faith that My Brother’s Keepers will have a positive impact on the lives of our students and lead more male students to stay the course and complete their degrees,” Conyers said.

SC State will officially launch My Brother’s Keepers on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. in the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium. The event will feature remarks from university leadership, faculty, and students, outlining the goals of the initiative and the critical importance of fostering a community of success for Black men at SC State. Cameron Carraway will be the guest speaker.

“This initiative is a call to action for everyone on campus to come together and ensure that our Black male students are supported, encouraged, and inspired,” Clinton said.

The leadership team will diligently work to identify funding sources to support the My Brother’s Keeper initiative.