Join us for an important symposium on recruitment and retention of African American students at CSN.
This symposium aims to unite legislators, Clark County School District (CCSD) leadership, CCSD administrators, prominent community members, faith-based leaders, educators, faculty, parents, students, and advocates. The collective goal is to exchange data-driven insights and collaborate with the local community in empowering African American students at CSN and increase graduation rates. This event will take place at CSN's North Las Vegas Campus inside the Main Building at the June Whitley Student Lounge.
Discussion Groups
What are the issues impacting African American males in higher education? What should be the focus?
This session will identify existing African American student initiatives in the Las Vegas Valley that focus on increasing rates of college going and/or Career Technical Education for African American male students. This discussion will also explore ways to scale existing CSN African American male initiatives to include community and industry involvement.
Where is my tribe? Connection and Belongingness in College.
What can CSN do to make the college a more welcoming place for African American students? Incoming freshmen often feel isolated during their time in higher education. For African American students, however, the lack of representation and diversity in peers exacerbates this problem. To attract a diverse student body and foster strong feelings of connectedness CSN must foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for African American students (Strayhorn, T. L. & Johnson, J. (May 2023), Beyond Enrollment: Addressing Black College Students’ Sense of Belonging through Admissions and Recruitment. Medium. https://medium.com/@terrell.strayhorn/beyond-enrollment-addressing-black-college-students-sense-of-belonging-through-admissions-and-61189c9b7d2f).
Recommendations on Bridging Pathways and Improving Academic Experiences for African American Students Across P-16 Education Pipelines.
What does it take for an African American student in Las Vegas to prepare for and enroll in a post-secondary educational institution and persist until completion or graduation? This session will discuss and develop a broad range of resources, tools, and support structures to empower students and their families in the pursuit and actualization of college success and workforce readiness.
Discussion Groups
What are the issues impacting African American males in higher education? What should be the focus?
This session will identify existing African American student initiatives in the Las Vegas Valley that focus on increasing rates of college going and/or Career Technical Education for African American male students. This discussion will also explore ways to scale existing CSN African American male initiatives to include community and industry involvement.
Where is my tribe? Connection and Belongingness in College.
What can CSN do to make the college a more welcoming place for African American students? Incoming freshmen often feel isolated during their time in higher education. For African American students, however, the lack of representation and diversity in peers exacerbates this problem. To attract a diverse student body and foster strong feelings of connectedness CSN must foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for African American students (Strayhorn, T. L. & Johnson, J. (May 2023), Beyond Enrollment: Addressing Black College Students’ Sense of Belonging through Admissions and Recruitment. Medium. https://medium.com/@terrell.strayhorn/beyond-enrollment-addressing-black-college-students-sense-of-belonging-through-admissions-and-61189c9b7d2f).
Recommendations on Bridging Pathways and Improving Academic Experiences for African American Students Across P-16 Education Pipelines.
What does it take for an African American student in Las Vegas to prepare for and enroll in a post-secondary educational institution and persist until completion or graduation? This session will discuss and develop a broad range of resources, tools, and support structures to empower students and their families in the pursuit and actualization of college success and workforce readiness.
Conference Schedule
The Creating a Workforce & College-Going Culture for African American Students to CSN will be held at CSN's North Las Vegas Campus, inside the Main Building, and the June Whitley Student Lounge (located inside the N Building).
5:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.: Check-in at the June Whitley Student Lounge
5:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Program overview by Dr. Lawrence Weekly
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: African American Student Experiences, Student Panel (Moderator: Keshia Gouveia)
6:30 p.m. – 6:40 p.m.: Break (10 minutes)
6:40 p.m. – 7:20 p.m.: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Best Practices, Panel (Moderators: Dr. Sonya Pearson & Racquel Melson)
7:20 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Closing Remarks
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.: Check-in at the June Whitley Student Lounge
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: Program overview by Dr. Flecia Thomas
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: CSN African American Student Data Presentation by Pam Gallion & Kimiko Walton
10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.: Room transition (10 minutes)
10:40 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.: Breakout sessions:
Issues impacting African American males in higher education: Moderators, Dr. Jonathan Wright & Brian Akins (Room N216)
Where is my tribe: Connection and Belongingness in College: Moderator, Torri Kellough (Room N220)
Recommendations on Bridging Pathways and Improving Academic Experiences for African American Students Across P-16 Education Pipelines: Moderator, Dr. Daniel Alvarado (Room N228)
11:40 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.: Room transition (5 minutes)
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.: Breakout sessions (continued):
Issues impacting African American males in higher education: Moderators, Dr. Jonathan Wright & Brian Akins (Room N216)
Where is my tribe: Connection and Belongingness in College: Moderator, Torri Kellough (Room N220)
Recommendations on Bridging Pathways and Improving Academic Experiences for African American Students Across P-16 Education Pipelines: Moderator, Dr. Daniel Alvarado (Room N228)
12:45 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.: Room transition (10 minutes)
12:55 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.: Action Planning Lunch Session: Moderators, Yvonne Jackson & Dr. Flecia Thomas
1:55 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Break (5 minutes)
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Panel: CSN Academic Schools/Programs with Dr. Michael Spangler, Dr. Charles Okeke, Dr. Richard Kravchak, and Stavan Corbett. Moderator: Dr. Janice Glasper
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.: Next steps and closing remarks by Dr. Flecia Thomas
Conference Schedule
The Creating a Workforce & College-Going Culture for African American Students to CSN will be held at CSN's North Las Vegas Campus, inside the Main Building, and the June Whitley Student Lounge (located inside the N Building).
5:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.: Check-in at the June Whitley Student Lounge
5:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Program overview by Dr. Lawrence Weekly
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: African American Student Experiences, Student Panel (Moderator: Keshia Gouveia)
6:30 p.m. – 6:40 p.m.: Break (10 minutes)
6:40 p.m. – 7:20 p.m.: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Best Practices, Panel (Moderators: Dr. Sonya Pearson & Racquel Melson)
7:20 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Closing Remarks
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.: Check-in at the June Whitley Student Lounge
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: Program overview by Dr. Flecia Thomas
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: CSN African American Student Data Presentation by Pam Gallion & Kimiko Walton
10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.: Room transition (10 minutes)
10:40 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.: Breakout sessions:
Issues impacting African American males in higher education: Moderators, Dr. Jonathan Wright & Brian Akins (Room N216)
Where is my tribe: Connection and Belongingness in College: Moderator, Torri Kellough (Room N220)
Recommendations on Bridging Pathways and Improving Academic Experiences for African American Students Across P-16 Education Pipelines: Moderator, Dr. Daniel Alvarado (Room N228)
11:40 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.: Room transition (5 minutes)
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.: Breakout sessions (continued):
Issues impacting African American males in higher education: Moderators, Dr. Jonathan Wright & Brian Akins (Room N216)
Where is my tribe: Connection and Belongingness in College: Moderator, Torri Kellough (Room N220)
Recommendations on Bridging Pathways and Improving Academic Experiences for African American Students Across P-16 Education Pipelines: Moderator, Dr. Daniel Alvarado (Room N228)
12:45 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.: Room transition (10 minutes)
12:55 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.: Action Planning Lunch Session: Moderators, Yvonne Jackson & Dr. Flecia Thomas
1:55 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Break (5 minutes)
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Panel: CSN Academic Schools/Programs with Dr. Michael Spangler, Dr. Charles Okeke, Dr. Richard Kravchak, and Stavan Corbett. Moderator: Dr. Janice Glasper
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.: Next steps and closing remarks by Dr. Flecia Thomas