MCC JOINS FIRST CONSORTIUM DEDICATED TO ADVANCING SUCCESS OF MEN OF COLOR IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Madisonville Community College (MCC) is excited to announce its membership in the Minority Male Community College Collaborative (M2C3) National Consortium on College Men of Color. Participation in the M2C3 Consortium will enhance the college s commitment to improving the success of historically underrepresented and underserved students, including men of color.

Despite programs designed to enhance outcomes for men of color, in the United States only 17% and 15% of Black and Latino men, respectively, earn a certificate, degree, or transfer from a community college to a four year institution in six years. Figures for men from other ethnic groups (e.g., Native American, Southeast Asian) also indicate an insurmountable need for improvement.

To combat this achievement gap, the M2C3 Consortium facilitates an exchange of ideas between community colleges across the nation on how best to serve men of color in our educational institutions. Community colleges convene to share their efforts and learn about new strategies for enhancing the success of men of college.

As an M2C3 member, Madisonville Community College will utilize:
access to M2C3 webinars on men of color,
access to the M2C3 virtual discussion board,
participation in information-sharing on promising practices with other community colleges,
participation in an annual working group meeting hosted in Sand Diego, California.


MCC s engagement with M2C3 will enhance professional development for faculty and staff, enable informed interventions for our current programs serving men of color, and inspire new initiatives addressing challenges facing these men.

Silas J. Matchem Sr., Director of the R.I.S.E. Initiative at MCC, notes, As we continue to see our minority male population grow here at Madisonville Community College, it is imperative that our policies, practices, and programs like the RISE Initiative continue to grow as well. Being a member of this National Consortium will help us stay informed about the latest research and national trends. We look forward to the future success of our men of color at MCC.

This innovative group of college leaders will be instrumental in implementing cutting-edge practices and policies to address the achievement gap facing underrepresented men, said Dr. J. Luke Wood, co-director M2C3.

Launched in February 2015, the M2C3 has already seen much success in information-sharing between community colleges. An average of more than 1,000 consortium members participate in each webinar.

It is inspiring to see educators collaborate and openly share innovative ideas for serving men of color, said Frank Harris III, co-director of M2C3. We look forward to the future of M2C3 and the future success of men of color.