#EDUCATE #UPLIFT #GROW #INSPIRE

The University System of Georgia’s African-American Male Initiative (AAMI) is a nationally recognized statewide network of programs that has a documented track record of increasing the enrollment, retention, and graduation of African-American males within Georgia’s public colleges and universities. Since the project’s inception in fall 2002, literally thousands of African-American males have matriculated within and graduated from University System of Georgia (USG) institutions. AAMI programs are presently operating on 26 of the 29 USG campuses throughout the state of Georgia. These programs serve a wide array of students, providing strategic interventions, academic support, and civic and professional exposure aimed at increasing their successful matriculation and graduation.

AAMI is widely credited with being the first-ever statewide effort specifically focused on increasing post-secondary educational attainment among Black males. Peers in the higher education community continuously seek to learn from and adopt AAMI’s trailblazing model as awareness has increased nationally of the ethnic and gender disparities prevalent on college campuses across the country. The College Board – the nation’s standard bearer for higher education access – has cited AAMI for its progress in closing postsecondary achievement gaps between Black male and female students in the state. The project also has been frequently cited and profiled in key media outlets, including The New York Times, USA Today, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Inside Higher Education, among others. AAMI’s work in improving educational outcomes for Black males is now positioned as a national model and as a potential demonstration project.

For more information on how to join the program please contact Dr. Johnnie Marshall jlmarshall@valdosta.edu or Professor Kendrick Dyer kgdyer@valdosta.edu.