Men of Distinction participants get a solid start in college with the Transitions to College Success class.

“Describe the most outstanding ‘You’ in the future – the person you aspire to be someday, the person you’d want others to admire,” Professor Glynis Christine tells her class.

This assignment is especially valuable because the 15 or so students – all male, all black – are among the most underserved populations in higher education. African-American males are the least likely to go to college, and an even smaller number will complete their degrees.

“This is a national problem, but we want to take some steps in our own community to help,” says Dr. Voncille Wright, Austin Community College’s Rio Grande Campus dean of students.

ACC created the Men of Distinction Program to provide an atmosphere that welcomes, supports, encourages, and even inspires black males during their college experience.

Wright co-founded the program last year with Student Life Director Cheryl Richard. Since then, Men of Distinction has garnered the support and attention of the TG student loan corporation, which recently awarded an $86,000 grant to the program.

The program currently supports 20 students, with a goal to reach 50 by the end of spring semester 2009.

A critical starting point for participants is Christine’s Transitions to College Success class (HUDE 0111). The eight-week course introduces them to fundamental college and life skills such as time management, study, and communication.

“I found myself actually applying what we’d been discussing in class – like coming home earlier, setting time aside to do homework, and focusing – without even thinking about it,” says Cory Clark, a psychology major who wants to finish college and become a counselor to set an example for local youth.

But the class is only a small slice of the program.

Another Men of Distinction component goes beyond the classroom and into the numerous support services the program’s founders, other ACC staff, and faculty are working hard to further develop.

Tutoring, direct connections to academic advisors, financial aid, resource materials for historically black colleges and universities, and internship partnerships are some of the services already under way.

Participants are also required to meet with African-American faculty and staff in one-on-one sessions to explore the opportunities and challenges black men commonly face in college.

“With all of this, we hope that they’ll get a vision for themselves past graduation, and see the greater opportunities an education provides,” says Wright. “We have to first create a rich soil for them to become well planted in the college in order to progress.”

A major part of getting participants well planted is the opportunity to participate in student activities outside the classroom.

“Going to college should be fun in some regard and not an intense uphill battle all of the time,” says Richard, whose Student Life Office develops a broad range of co-curricular opportunities. “Activities outside of the class are essential to being a well-rounded student.”

Though the program is in its infancy, Wright and Richard have high hopes for Men of Distinction and the students it impacts.

“These men are taking a big step just by showing up and seeking help,” Wright says. “We’ll continue to encourage them along the way.”