This year’s report presents the initial phase in the creation of an “Opportunity Index” that will allow researchers and policymakers to compare residents’ perceptions of specific factors that block or facilitate their access to opportunity across communities and over time.
More than 100 Fortune 500 companies and federal government agencies take part in TMCF’s Leadership Institute, a four-day program that aims to develop the student-attendees’ leadership skills, provide employers access to overlooked diverse talent and help students make connections that lead to “good” jobs.
In addition to creating buzz on HBCU campuses, Beyoncé’s performance may have also had an impact on prospective students’ decision-making. Page said that when she spoke to high school seniors last year who were considering Spelman as part of an admitted students program, “I heard Coachella brought up a lot.”
Additional financial tips were provided by Joyce Payne, founder of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and Leah Hill, associate director of financial aid at N.C. Wesleyan College.
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data shows that HBCUs graduate the highest percentage of Black students in the nation; 45 percent associate’s degrees, 81 percent bachelor’s, 70 percent master’s and 62 percent doctoral.
TMCF will continue to help assist the USDA achieve its goal in attracting a cross section of candidates into careers in agriculture and other related disciplines, while offering TMCF member-school students opportunities to develop their professional goals and build practical work experience.