In this paper, we focus on how Black students matter, from their perspective, in
Ohio higher education. To better support Black students, policymakers, college
leaders, and organizers must understand what is happening on the ground
from students themselves. The words of the essayist and thinker, James
Baldwin, are pertinent here: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but
nothing can be changed until it is faced.” This Ohio Black Student Equity Report
is our contribution to ensuring that Ohioans face the state of racial (in)equity in
higher education as it relates to Black students.
In this proposal for a National Service Learning Academy and complimentary Action Research Program, several curricula configurations are put forth. The first is a full-blown action research major that partially dictates the appropriate courses to take fulfilling the A&S core requirements and the majority of free electives. The second is a minor/certificate in action research. The third is an alternative set of core courses that would replace the credit hours traditionally reserved for the A&S core requirements, enabling any student to tack on the action research experience to their chosen major while still having credit hours available to pursue other minors, certificates, or electives. The fourth is an alternative core that is based more heavily on applied courses and knowledge.
