By Sierra Baumbach
Staff Writer
Baylor was recently named one of the best schools in the nation for African-Americans.
M. Clayton & Associates, a company that has studied colleges and universities across the nation to find institutions committed to helping African-American students graduate, published a new list that named the “88 Best Colleges for African-Americans.” More than 800 schools were judged off of criteria that included a minimum graduation rate of 40 percent for African-American students, an African-American student population of at least 6.5 percent and a high graduation rate for African-Americans based on ACT scores and compared against the company’s determined ACT score for graduation.
Baylor African-American students’ average scores were 23.3 for ACT and 1066 for SAT.
Baylor was one of only four Texas colleges to make the list, the other three were Rice University Texas Lutheran University, and The University of Texas-Tyler. Baylor was also the only Big 12 member.
Baylor offers many programs that focus on the African-American population. These programs include the African Student Association, the Association of Black Students at Baylor and the Department of Multicultural Affairs.
“I definitely agree that Baylor is one of the best universities for African-Americans,” Beaumont sophomore Ambreea Warren said. “Baylor has plenty of resources and programs that give not only African-Americans, but all minorities opportunities to further succeed while pursuing secondary education.”
Memphis, Tenn., junior Valerie Soyinka said the Multicultural Office highlights the importance of diversity.
“Baylor has a lot of activities going on for MLK week,” Soyinka said. “Baylor really makes African-American students feel at home.”
Such events include the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Luncheon and the Celebration Dinner put on by the Department of Multicultural Affairs.
Baylor will also be hosting GospelFest and the Black Heritage Banquet in February.
“As an executive board member of the Association of Black Students and a member of Baylor’s chapter of NAACP, we strive to keep the African-American community active on campus by having events that root back to our culture,” Warren said. “Baylor’s small campus allows everyone from all different cultures to interact and learn from one another.”
