Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis Joins State and Local Leaders to Kick-Off California’s Black-Serving Institutions Designation 

 

For Immediate Release
Friday, February 7, 2025   
Contact: Press@ltg.ca.gov, (916) 445-8994

 

CARSON, CA — Today, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis kicked off Black History Month by joining California State University (CSU) Chancellor Mildred García, CSU Dominguez Hills President Dr. Thomas Parham, Senator Steven Bradford, and other state and local leaders for an event highlighting California’s groundbreaking new law establishing a Black-Serving Institution designation for colleges and universities in the state. As the only statewide elected official on the governing boards of all three of California’s public higher education systems, Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis will officially serve as Chair of the Board for Black-Serving Institutions, leading efforts to ensure their success and impact. 

SB 1348 (Bradford, 2024) was the first law of its kind in the nation. The law created the Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions, recognizing higher education institutions committed to advancing Black student success. The designation aims to address long-standing systemic barriers that have contributed to disproportionately low college enrollment and graduation rates for Black students in California. The new law went into effect on January 1, 2025.  

For more information about the Black-Serving Institution designation and its implementation, visit here.  

 

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: 

 

California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis  

“California is making history with the launch of the Black-Serving Institution designation—an initiative that will open doors, break barriers, and ensure that Black students have the resources and support they need to thrive in higher education. As Chair of the Board for Black-Serving Institutions and the only statewide elected official serving on the boards of all three of California’s higher education systems, I am committed to making sure this designation delivers real impact and helps create a future where every Black student in California has the opportunity to succeed. 

 

CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia 

“This groundbreaking California legislation aligns with the CSU’s longstanding commitment to advancing equity and inclusivity within higher education. The ‘Black-Serving Institution’ designation enables our universities to create even more opportunities for all our students to thrive and helps ensure that Black students achieve their highest academic goals and the life-changing benefits of a CSU degree.” 

 

CSUDH President Dr. Thomas Parham Jr.

“While many view servingness through the lens of demographic or numerical measures, the concept goes beyond simply meeting a certain threshold of enrollment to encompass an institution’s support for the populations it serves. Servingness is about the quality of the educational experience students, faculty, staff, and executives receive and the opportunities they have to grow and develop in that environment. At California State University Dominguez Hills, we are proud to be leaders in a system of higher education that works to improve Black students’ outcomes, and elevate Black excellence starting with recruitment, enrollment, all the way to career success. The California leaders here today should be lauded for having the long-term vision to invest in these efforts and approach this work with intentionality.” 

 

Former State Senator Steven Bradford

“SB 1348 fills an important void by recognizing the commitment of California colleges and universities that are making significant investments in ending historic disparities that exist for Black students. The Black-Serving Institutions will set a high bar for schools and showcase their focus on Black students.”