Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 1348 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), which will promote Black student success in higher education by creating the nation’s first recognition of a Black-Serving Institution.

The designation will be similar to the existing federal recognition of Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions.

California’s new Black-Serving Institutions designation will highlight colleges and universities that are focused on expanding educational opportunities and improving the academic outcomes for Black students.

“SB 1348 fills an important void by recognizing the commitment of California colleges and universities that are making significant investments in ending historic disparities that exist for Black students,” Bradford said. “The Black-Serving Institutions will set a high bar for schools and showcase their focus on Black students.”

To qualify as a Black-Serving Institution, a college or university must have a Black student population of at least 10% or 1,500 students. The institution must also have a Black student success program, demonstrate the resources that will be used to ensure the student success plan can be implemented, certify a commitment to address Black and African American student success, and submit key performance indicators of Black student success the school will achieve during the designation period.

The California State University Statewide Central Office for Advancement of Black Excellence will serve as the administering body and the awarding decisions will be made by an eight-member governing board consisting of the Lieutenant Governor or their designee, a member of the public appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, a member of the public appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, a representative  of the President of the University of California,  the Chancellor of the California State University,  the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, and the California Legislative Black Caucus.

Supporters of SB 1348 believe California’s new Black-Serving Institution designation will make a difference by improving outcomes.

“SB 1348 is another example of California leading in equity in higher education,” Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis said. “With the designation of California Black-Serving Institutions, Black students and families can now identify schools committed to supporting their success. I thank Governor Newsom for signing this bill and Senator Bradford for championing it. As a member of the California Black Serving Institution Governing Board, I look forward to continuing the work to remove barriers and create opportunities for historically excluded students.”

“Thank you, Senator Bradford, for authoring this trailblazing legislation in support of Black Student Success in California. Senate Bill 1348 is important as we all strive to improve black student completion at four-year colleges and universities in California,” Compton College President Dr. Keith Curry said.

 “Being a Black-Serving Institution means more than attaining a certain percentage of Black students. It means being aspirational, intentional, and committed to the cultivation of the goals, dreams, and greatness of our students of African descent,” Dr. Thomas A. Parham, President of California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) said. “The BSI designation would better position campuses like CSUDH to advance Black student success, increase and retain the number of Black students, and elevate servingness within our communities. Beyond creating cultural comfort zones, elevating their sense of belonging, and affirming their humanity, servingness includes campuses’ recruitment of Black students, faculty, and staff, support through culturally specific activities, and the celebration of cultural heritage in ways that facilitate students’ retention, graduation, and success.”

“This landmark legislation is a game changer for higher education institutions across California who want to support black student success. Even more, this legislation will change the face of higher education at a national level, serving as a roadmap for how to reshape federal designations to focus on serving and enrolling students of color,” Sacramento State President Luke Wood said. “As a researcher, who has spent over two decades finding solutions to support marginalized communities, SB1348 ensures that Black-Serving institutions will play a critical role in addressing and improving the historic disparities we see in higher education, ensuring equitable opportunities and support for Black students to thrive academically, professionally, and personally. Thank you to Senator Bradford for paving the way and leading on this bill. We are grateful for his leadership, passion, and vision.”

“I am grateful to the Governor for signing this legislation that will focus resources and attention on closing historic racial disparities,” Bradford said. “This recognition will help California students and their families identify those colleges and universities with the highest commitment to promoting Black student success.”

SB 1348 will become law on January 1, 2025.

Senator Bradford is Vice Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications, and represents the Los Angeles County communities of Carson, Compton, Gardena, Harbor City, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lennox, San Pedro, Torrance, Watts, Willowbrook, and Wilmington.