Research & Assessment

By Shaun R. Harper

This report is intended for every professional sports league and all teams across America. It introduces some reflective questions, a racial justice continuity framework, ten principles, and numerous concrete actions that will deepen and sustain the momentum of Summer 2020. Guidance is offered to leagues and teams that are serious about going beyond social justice slogans and charitable donations.

By Melguizo, T., Cooper, S., Kurlaender, M., Bensimon, E.M.

This brief is motivated by our optimism that AB 705 can repair the harms done by more than 50 years of consigning racially minoritzed students to remedial education courses—non-credit courses that have contributed to the very high rates of withdrawal that have characterized enrollment patterns in community colleges for too long.

By Shaun R. Harper and Isaiah Simmons

In this report, letter grades are awarded to public colleges and universities on four racial equity indicators for Black undergraduates. Additionally, we calculated an Equity Index Score (the equivalent of a grade point average) for each institution. Statistics, grades, and Equity Index Scores for 506 public postsecondary institutions are provided separately on 50 state lists.

By Shaun R. Harper

In Spring 2018, the USC Race and Equity Center released our biennial report on Black male student-athletes and racial inequities at the 65 universities that comprise the five major NCAA sports conferences. The report includes data on team composition, federal graduation rates, and the racial makeup of coaches and athletics executives.

A Project Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Work will be conducted in the following manner:

1. Conduct Assessments of Policy Implementation

Interviews will be conducted with a broad group of stakeholders, including advocate organizations spearheading policy reform, faculty groups representing both proponents and challengers of new policies, non-partisan research groups studying implementation of policy (e.g., the Legislative Analyst Office), presidents and academic vice presidents, and faculty innovators (e.g., California Acceleration Project leaders). These interviews will inform the development of capacity building opportunities and determine target audiences as well as help us identify campuses already engaged in innovative practices.

2. Hold Convenings of Experts to Assess Policy Implementation Artifacts

Replicating CUE’s methods of reviewing Student Equity Policy plans, we will gather teams of reviewers (virtually or in-person) to engage in a collaborative process of equity-minded review of state- and institutional-level reports, templates, and plans identifying strengths and weaknesses in the implementation processes.

Progressive state-level policies have the potential to deliver on racial equity for students—but implementation ultimately relies on the professional development provided for student-facing faculty and staff.

If that professional development is race-neutral, there’s real danger of not delivering on the promise of these policies. Applying a critical race lens, using explicit, equity-minded language, and leveraging racial equity scholars can remedy this.