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Congratulations to the 31 California campuses designated as Black-Serving Institutions (BSIs)! Announced last week by Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and the Governing Board for BSIs, this inaugural cohort represents a historic milestone in advancing equity and opportunity for Black students across California’s higher education system.
The BSI designation recognizes institutions that demonstrate meaningful progress in retention, graduation, representation, belonging, and closing equity gaps for Black students. These campuses will serve as anchors of excellence and empowerment, ensuring that Black learners thrive in environments that honor their identities, histories, assets, and aspirations.
As highlighted in our Black Minds Matter 2025 report, the BSI designation is a valuable tool for amplifying Black student success. However, California must commit to sustained investments in BSIs to drive progress in college access, affordability, and persistence for Black students.
Today, we celebrate not only these 31 institutions but also the generations of Black scholars whose brilliance and resilience continue to shape California’s story.
EdTrust-West is an evidence-driven advocacy organization committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in California’s education system. For over two decades, EdTrust-West has worked to improve racial equity in education by engaging diverse communities and increasing political and public will to build an education system where students of color and multilingual learners will thrive. For more information, see www.edtrustwest.org.