On Nov. 27, SUNY Brockport announced on social media that it had joined a nationwide initiative to “close equity gaps and boost student success” as part of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).  

In joining this initiative, Brockport joins 17 other institutions around the country that are also participating in the Student Success Equity Intensive (SSEI). The college is included in the third cohort to become part of this part of this program, now totaling 52 institutions. 

The goal of the SSEI is to close the equity gaps of Black, Latinx, Indigenous and low-income students at these institutions in a comprehensive, multi-year plan that ensures race and income will not dictate their success. 

Participating institutions will now have access to resources like online modules and webinars and will also receive support from experts in fields, such as data analytics, student success and institutional transformation. 

SUNY Brockport president Heidi Macpherson is proud to work alongside AASCU. 

“We share AASCU’s goal of ensuring that socio-economic status and race no longer predict student success. We look forward to continuing to take steps toward accomplishing that goal through our work in this initiative,” Macpherson said in an article by Rochester Business Journal.  

Macpherson wants SUNY Brockport to be a great place that allows all students equal opportunity.  

Institutions participating in the SSEI come from rural, urban and suburban areas all across the country and this allows for a wide variety of backgrounds to get involved in the Initiative. With this, each institution is required to create a team of key campus leaders, since engagement is one of the most important pieces to creating long-term transformation, according to https://aascu.org/news/more-aascu-institutions-selected-to-join-national-initiative-to-close-equity-gaps-andboost-student-success/.  

AASCU’s assistant vice president for student success, Jacquelyn R. Jones is committed to making sure all students can succeed no matter their background.  

“The Student Success Equity Intensive helps level the playing field for student success,” Jones said in an AASCU article. “We enjoy working with AASCU institutions as thought partners as we work tirelessly to close equity gaps and break down barriers for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and low-income students.” 

More information can be found on the AASCU’s website.