mdc.edu/main/collegeforum MIAMI DADE /MDCollege @MDCollege @MDCollege youtube.com/MiamiDadeColleges ‘ENROLL, ENGAGE AND COMPLETE’ MDC Focuses on Strengthening Equity and Outcomes for Black Students COLLEGE f orum September 2020 • Volume 24 • Number 3 “I believe the College has been doing a good job making sure that we are inclusive and provide access and services to all segments of our student population,” said Dr. Rolando Montoya, interim president. “But there are always gaps that need to be addressed.” MDC is renowned for being Miami’s great equalizer when it comes to higher education. The College, which has admitted more than 2 million students, changes lives and generates upward mobility by providing ed-ucation and career pathways to predominantly low-income – and often underserved – populations. Consider these impressive metrics: MDC ranks fourth in the nation in the number of associate degrees awarded to Black students. In 2017-18, across all degree and certificate types, 1,676 Black students gradu-ated from MDC. That represented a 5% higher graduation rate than the national average. Continued on page 10 MDC students and youth participating in, from left, Black Male Initiative event, Painting with a Twist event and 5000 Role Models of Excellence conference A t Miami Dade College’s North Campus, where the College got its start 60 years ago, Black students thrive, posting the highest five-year graduation rates of any MDC campus. That success is no accident – it’s built on a foundation of pre-college immersion opportunities, Black student organizations and strong mentorship that create a safe and supportive learning environment. It’s a model that works. And in this historic moment of national turmoil regarding social justice and equity for Black Americans, MDC is embarking on a collegewide initiative to expand it further, aiming to improve access and outcomes for all of its Black students. ‘’Enroll, Engage and Complete” is the new effort, being undertaken by a working group of community, College and student representatives who are holding a mirror up to MDC and asking: What more should be done to foster an inclusive and equitable academic environment for Black students? MDC’s Season of the Arts Celebrates the Creative Spirit As the arts evolve to accommodate the coronavirus outbreak, M Miami Dade College kicks off another exciting Season of the Arts with safe-e-ty and fluidity as its hallmarks. MDC is committed to expression and d artistry – whether provocative, inspirational or entertaining – and d to th. showcasing diverse voices that span age, gender, ethnicity and fait . This fall, highly anticipated works by top authors, musicians, da -anc-ugh ers, filmmakers and artists will be showcased online and live throu the College’s various arts organizations, including the acclaim ed d Miami Book Fair, GEMS Film Festival, Jazz at Wolfson Presen ts, , Museum of Art and Design (MOAD), Cuban Legacy Gallery, th he Koubek Center and the Kislak Center. ks The Book Fair’s outstanding 2020 lineup includes online talk with influential authors, including bestselling author Terry y a McMillan , MacArthur Fellowship-winner poet Claudia Rankine , renowned children’s books author Dan n Santat , suspense author Dean Koontz , National Public Radio host Maria Hinojosa and acclaimed Nigerian novelist Ben Okri . New, intimate conversation segments featuring U.S. Poet Laureates and intergenerational authors join re-turning series such as ReadCaribbean, Generation Genius and IberoAmerican Authors. Book Fair events will be available for viewing online from the comfort and safety of your own home – or wherever you log on. Body Electric Juliana Huxtable, Lil’ Marvel, 2015 MiAMi BOOK FAiR Check out MDC’s full Season of the Arts offerings on Pages 12-13 . Artwork © 2020 Dan Santat
College Forum Volume 24 • Number 3: Page 1
