SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Former U.S. President Barack Obama provided a special message to congratulate the inaugural class of Sacramento State’s Black Honors College at a ceremony introducing the first-of-its-kind institution.
“Now, I know it’s not always easy being the first - trust me,” Obama said. “But the fact that all of you took a chance on this idea - an institution within an institution, specifically designed to serve the needs of Black students - speaks to the type of people you are.”
Obama advised the inaugural class to lead by example as not everyone has access to the same opportunity.
“I hope all of you will channel the knowledge that you gain here into a cause larger than yourselves,” Obama said.
Sacramento State’s Black Honors College is launching with 70 students. The college is designed for students interested in Black history, life and culture. It's the brainchild of the school’s president, Dr. Luke Wood.
"We're creating an institution within the institution, because our 75-year history has shown that, as a campus, we have not been as effective as we should be in serving our Black and African American students," Wood said in an exclusive interview with ABC10 in February.
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The Black Honors College is located in a 6,000-square-foot space with a seminar room for lectures and classes.
The college is open to students of all races and cultures as long as they have a 3.5 GPA.
According to the university, the college will feature specialized general education courses with smaller classes and faculty members who have a record of success in serving Black and African-American students.
It also offers seminars focused on economic empowerment and leadership.
Sacramento State has the most Black students in the Cal State system. However, Wood says the university has room for improvement. The four-year graduation rate for Black students at Sacramento State is 17.4% and well below the system-wide average of 23%.
Though the first class has 70 students, Wood says he is hoping to eventually grow the program to at least 1,000 students.
