Georgia’s State Universities Aim to Close the Gender Gap in African-American Higher Education

Readers of JBHE are well aware of the huge and growing gender gap in African-American higher education. But in Georgia state universities appear to be successfully addressing the problem.

The African-American Male Initiative of the University of Georgia system was established five years ago. The initiative includes tutoring, mentoring, and leadership development programs as well as extensive college visitation opportunities for black men.

The results have been impressive. Systemwide, black male enrollments have increased 24.5 percent since the program was founded. This year there are 21,249 black males enrolled in state universities in Georgia, up from 17,068 in 2002.

The initiative is under the direction of Arlethia Perry-Johnson, special assistant to the president at Kennesaw State University.

Copyright © 2007. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. All rights reserved.