ECC Board of Trustees Executive Summary
Date: October 31, 2019 Subcommittee: Curriculum, Student Success and Diversity
Agenda Item: Memorandum of Agreement signed between Say Yes to Education Buffalo, Buffalo State College, Medaille College and SUNY Erie to support Men of Color Post-Secondary Persistence This item is: For Board's Information Backup Documentation: Attached to this document
Background Information: This document constitutes a partnership agreement between Say Yes to Education Buffalo, Buffalo State College, Medaille College, and SUNY Erie to collaborate regarding the review, assessment and evaluation of the persistence levels of Men of Color on their respective campuses. All parties have agreed to work within their institution's campus structure to develop an infrastructure committed to examining the post-secondary persistence and academic success of men of color on their campuses by reviewing and examining academic, departmental and cross-departmental metrics and working jointly with local institutions to increase overall persistence resulting in the decrease of stop-outs across campuses.
Say Yes is a national non-profit organization committed to dramatically increasing high school and college graduation rates for our nation’s inner-city youth. Say Yes Buffalo is a landmark collaboration that brings the Buffalo Public School District, Say Yes Higher Education Compact partner colleges, Say Yes to Education, Inc., the Buffalo Teachers’ Federation, the Buffalo Association of Administrators and Supervisors, the City of Buffalo, Erie County, the American Institutes for Research, and a diverse group of Buffalo area corporate, non-profit, and philanthropic organizations together to organize people, time, money and resources to provide holistic, year-round support to Buffalo Public School District students throughout their K-12 years and beyond. Say Yes to Education and its partners believe every student can graduate high school and college when given the proper supports, resources, and opportunities.
Reasons for Recommendation: To elevate the need for urgent action and commitment to address on-campus systems that may negatively impact the persistence issues impacting men of color.
Fiscal Implications: No fiscal responsibility is necessary. Consequences of Negative Action: The agreement elevates the need for urgent action and a commitment to address on-campus systems that may negatively impact the persistence issues impacting men of color.
Steps Following Approval: Assistant County Attorney Leslie Ortiz Fogg reviewed the document prior to the President's signature. The agreement is now in the implementation phase. Contact Information If Any Questions: Douglas M. Scheidt, Ph.D., Provost and Executive Vice President Phone: (716) 851-1500/email: [email protected] Men of Color Post-Secondary Persistence Memorandum of Agreement {MOA)
This document constitutes an agreement between Say Yes to Education Buffalo, Buffalo State College, Medaille College, and SUNY Erie Community College to collaborate regarding the review, assessment and evaluation of the persistence levels of Men of Color on their respective campuses.
I. Parties:
The name and addresses of the organizations/institutions that are parties to this agreement are:
Say Yes To Education Buffalo 712 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14202
Medaille College Office of the President 18 Agassiz Circle Buffalo, NY 14214
Buffalo State College Office of the President 1300 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, New York 14222
SUNY Erie Community College Office of the President 121 Ellicott Street. Buffalo, NY 14203
II. General Understanding:
All parties will agree to work within their institution's campus structure to develop an infrastructure committed to examining the post-secondary persistence and academic success of men of color on their campuses. Reviewing and examining academic, departmental and cross-departmental metrics that impact the persistence of men of color; and working jointly with local institutions to increase overall persistence resulting in the decrease of stop-outs across campuses. Ill. Purpose:
• The purpose of this MOU is to set forth the responsibilities and expectations of Say Yes Buffalo and the participating post-secondary institutions. • To elevate the need for urgent action and commitment to address on campus systems that may negatively impact the persistence issues impacting men of color. • For each institution to establish an inter and intra post-secondary institutional collaborative process that will set assessment matrixes, monitoring and presenting progress findings quarterly, and identify best practices as an agenda item of the Say Yes Buffalo Operating Committee P-16 work ("seamless" educational network from pre-kindergarten through the 16th "grade.") • The Men of Color Post-Secondary Persistence Committee will be open to all Say Yes Buffalo compact (post-secondary higher education institutions in the Western New York area).
IV. Description and Scope of Men of Color Post-Secondary Persistence on Campus Committee Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Each institution will establish an on-campus committee to examine the infrastructure, supports, and data surrounding the post-secondary persistence of men of color.
2. Each institution will commit to occupying a seat on the WNY Men of Color Post-Secondary Persistence Taskforce (hosted by Say Yes Buffalo); as a way to facilitate cross-campus collaboration, sharing findings, best practices, and innovations.
3. Each Institution will be asked to conduct a 5-year trend analysis on the following as it pertains to Men of Color on their institution's campuses: (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, and Graduate Students) a. The number of men of color on campus, disaggregated by race and ethnicity b. The percentage of male students on campus that are men of color c. The number and percentage of men of color graduating by degree d. An analysis of degree programs enrolling men of color on your campus.
4. Each institution will conduct their own review of current supports, articulation agreements, transfers, and appeals processes as they relate to men of color and persistence on their campus.
2 V. Period of Agreement: This Agreement will cover a _three (3) year period initiating in August of 2019 through July of 2022.
VI. .Authority; Each party warrants that the official, officer, or director signing this Memorandum of Agreement has been duly authorized by the party they represent to execute this Memorandum on its behalf.
Signature: __J_ (M0_ ~_- -~-- ._c.;· ______Date \[ lC:, [V7
David Rust Executive Director Say Yes Buffalo
Dr. Kenneth M. Macur President Medaille College
Sign
Dr. Katttrine . Conway-Turner President Buffalo State College
. -=-4--==, t D Sep 12, 2019 Signature:------~ ate______
Dr. Dan Hocoy President SUNY Erie Community College
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