According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2015 only 17 percent of Black men ages 25-29 had completed a bachelor's degree or higher. Not only is this a problem for the millions of students who do not have the benefit of higher education, but to our country as a whole. In the 21st century economy, sitting satisfied with a high school education is not enough for an individual to remain employed long term nor for America to remain one of the world's leading innovators. Talking about our leadership on the world stage means nothing if we ignore so many of our own human assets, thereby losing the opportunity to solve global problems in the future.
Unfortunately, going to college, let alone graduating with a degree, is seen as a distant glimmer for many, particularly those growing up in low income neighborhoods or those who are first generation college-goers. It's not that these students don't have the heart or don't want to work for their education; the real problem is the layers of hurdles -- academic, social and financial challenges -- that students have to overcome just to get their foot in the institution's door, and then to stay there.
I am the co-executive producer of a new documentary All the Difference, that is premiering September 12 on the PBS award-winning POV series. Filmed over five and a half years, All the Difference weaves together the stories of two determined, promising young black men -- Robert Henderson and Krishaun Branch -- as they overcome the obstacles of under-resourced homes, and high-risk communities in Chicago to attend college. The film explores the particular factors in their lives that made "all the difference" in helping them be the first in their families to most likely escape poverty and secure a place in the middle class by following them through college and illuminating the academic, social, and financial barriers they faced.
Robert and Krishaun were fortunate enough to attend a high school specifically designed to prepare students academically for the collegiate experience. Unfortunately, too many students do not have the luxury of such preparation, and they enter college believing the same level of effort they exerted in high school will allow them to make it through higher ed. Higher expectations and more demanding courses cause many students to struggle to stay afloat. The lack of adequate preparation and study skills often results in the need to take developmental courses. These courses, which have the same price tag as any other college course, do not earn any transferrable credits. The lack of adequate academic preparation combined with credit empty courses and additional debt discourage students and stall college careers within the first few semesters.
The academic challenges for many students are directly connected to the challenges associated with the social transition as well. While students are confronted with more demanding curricula, they are also in a new space separated from the support networks they are familiar with. Without the guidance and support of mentors and even peers, the academic and financial struggles seem more and more insurmountable. Both Robert and Krishaun faced economic insecurity, academic frustration and even family loss. These factors push both dangerously close to leaving college and stalling, if not ending, their education. What brings Robert and Krishaun back are the mentors they seek out. Each boy develops a network of academic advisors, mentors and financial aid officers to help them work through the challenges they face. Unfortunately, not all students are able to make these connections and find the support networks necessary to succeed.
The financial hurdle of attending college can also be truly prohibitive. Research shows that low-income students, while qualified for need-based grant aid, still take on the most debt. Having ready access to the Internet and time to meet deadlines are significant challenges, as are managing the application process and retrieving data from the IRS, especially without guidance. The paperwork and process of the FAFSA are difficult for most to navigate, including students who have college savvy families. Then even once you are in college, the need for emergency financing to deal with things like books, childcare, food, and transportation can be show-stoppers.
Platforms like my Baltimore, Maryland-based BridgeEDU are working to solve this problem. At BridgeEDU, we partner with universities such as the Community College of Baltimore County and Coppin State University to provide our students with greater supports, including a suite of wrap-around services and an experiential co-curriculum. Our program, along with other great platforms like Thread, and College Possible, was created to address the college completion crisis and ensure that more students have the tools and know-how to succeed.
While there are so many incredible groups working to combat these issues, we are still seeing too many students struggling to build academic momentum. The academic, social and financial barriers are real obstacles to college completion and success. We got the name of the documentary from the Robert Frost's famous poem "The Road less traveled" where he spoke about two roads that diverged in the woods, and how he took the road less traveled and that made all the difference in his life. Currently, and unfortunately, most students who fall into this demographic, will not make it through the gauntlet of higher education. This tragedy of our reality is laid bare, and we must commit to increasing access and completion for our most vulnerable population. That will make all the difference.