In Support of the SF State Black Unity Center

Resolution Number: RS18-369
April, 2018
Whereas: 
RATIONALE: The Black Unity Center was opened in August 2017 as a resource for Black students on the San Francisco State campus. The inaugural Director, Professor Serie McDougal, has made great progress in reaching out to the entire campus with programming that is open and inclusive. The Academic Senate remains concerned and about the need for ongoing consultation and support of the center and its efforts.
Whereas: 
the Black Unity Center at SF State University has been an ongoing demand from SF State’s Black Student Union from 1966 through 2016, and was one of six student demands made to President Wong to address the retention and success of African descended students; and
Whereas: 
in the strategic spirits of equity and community, and after a series of meetings, President Wong acknowledged this demand and its relationship to the CSU Graduation Initiative 2025 by enabling the creation of The Black Unity Center as part of the new Division of Equity and Community Inclusion; and
Whereas: 
under the leadership of Dr. Serie McDougal III, Associate Professor of Africana Studies, College of Ethnic Studies, the mission of The Black Unity Center has evolved to provide students, through cross-campus community collaboration, an African-centered environment that aims at student achievement through transformative, impactful and social conscious programs that minimize barriers to educational equity; and
Whereas: 
the Director of the Center provides guidance, consultation and assistance in the development, review and revision of departmental/unit policies and procedures so as to minimize barriers to educational equity for Black students and to enhance access, success, retention and graduation for Black students; and
Whereas: 
the Director and the Center’s work-study coordinators provides guidance on the development of culturally responsive programing and co-curriculum and work collaboratively with Academic Affairs colleagues on promoting culturally relevant curriculum; and
Whereas: 
the mission of the Center is to provide Black students, through cross-campus community collaborations and an intersectional, African-centered environment, with transformative, impactful and socially conscious programs that allow them to grow academically, interpersonally, culturally and professionally, in order to advance their recruitment, matriculation, retention and graduation; Therefore, be it
Resolved: 
that the Academic Senate of San Francisco State University recognizes the need for the role of the Black Unity Center on our campus, as the 6-year graduation rates of Black students at SF State are more than 20% below those of non-underrepresented groups; and be it further
Resolved: 
that the Academic Senate of San Francisco State University encourages the administration to engage in ongoing consultation and provide sufficient resources for the Black Unity Center to advance, function, and thrive and a structure that matches both the mission of the center and the university; and be it further
Resolved: 
that SF State follow through on plans to develop similar centers focused on Latinx students, LGBTQ+ students, and Interfaith & Intercultural programs.
Resolved: 
that this resolution be distributed to President Wong, Provost & VP of Academic Affairs Summit, VP of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Hong and Professor McDougal.