Students from underrepresented groups are “not only our future workforce; they are our future inventors, pioneers, and innovators,” Goldstein said, “But where are they? In 2005 across this country, just 14 black Americans earned Ph.D.s from math departments. That number says everything about the crisis we face now in preparing students for high-level study.” He added, “gaps in access and success remain.”

Though targeted towards black males, BMI’s programs – in line with CUNY’s mission to ensure opportunity for all — are open to all academically eligible students, faculty and staff without regard to race, gender or national origin and are intended to serve as models to improve educational outcomes for all students. They include Queens College’s outreach program for high school students interested in education careers; College of Staten Island’s early-intervention project providing tutors, mentors and teachers from underrepresented groups to function as role models for students starting high school, and other mentoring programs focused on eighth-graders and students at risk of dropping out of GED programs.

Today, CUNY’s enrollment is growing – it has increased 4.3% since last year – and is broadly diverse. Based on 2007 data, the most recent available, some 31% of students enrolled University-wide were white, 27% were black, 26% were Hispanic and 16%, Asian/Pacific Islander.

The magazine’s “Diversity Champions” reflect “the promise and vision committed organizations and individuals have put forth to bring about an inclusive U.S. society,” its editors said in the September citation. “By now, it’s more than clear,” they added, “that Champions bring diversity and excellence together as harmonious and complementary values. It should also be clear that Champions deserve recognition for the transformative and vital work that they do.”

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