Black Business Organizations Say State-Funded Colleges and Universities Have ‘Abysmal’ Record of Minority Participation

Advertisement Black Business Organizations Say State-Funded Colleges and Universities Have ‘Abysmal’ Record of Minority Participation (Chicago, IL) — The Chicago Southland Black Chamber of Commerce, together with other Black business and contracting organizations, has called for a Subject Matter Hearing with the Illinois House of Representatives Appropriations – Higher Education Committee, chaired by State Representative La Shawn K. Ford, to bring to attention the abysmal minority participation numbers reported by state-funded colleges and universities. The press conference, scheduled for 9:15 am on Thursday, March 28, is being held before the 10 am hearing at the Michael A. Bilandic Building in Chicago. The black business organizations feel that the colleges and universities have not been meeting their minority participation goals, with some community colleges reporting 0%. Aside from the City Colleges of Chicago, most other colleges or universities in Illinois are not meeting their goals. “The numbers are outright horrible for minority participation. When you look at black participation, it’s abysmal and God-awful,” stated Dr. Cornel Darden Jr., Chairman of the Chicago Southland Black Chamber of Commerce. The Chicago Southland Black Chamber of Commerce and Industry is expected to be joined by other black business organizations such as the Black Contractors...