The Gordon State College African American Male Initiative program has received a $15,000 funding award from the University System of Georgia’s AAMI.
“We are so pleased to be awarded this funding,” said Ryran Traylor, Gordon State AAMI Director. “The money will be used to provide additional resources that promote and encourage each student. Academic Skills Enrichment will be enhanced and monitored by requiring monthly visits with their academic advisor as well as a mandatory weekly study hall. Students will be encouraged to participate in retreats and conferences that will allow them opportunities to grow personally while seeing the bigger picture. The students will be provided with a peer and adult mentor. This relationship will provide additional encouragement and accountability. Finally, students will gain leadership skills by participating in our GSC Toastmasters. Their skills will then be practiced while working on service projects with our local civic partners. These activities are all strategically aligned to assist in the development of a student that is encouraged to begin, that will have the momentum to move forward, that will be resilient when challenged, and will be future leaders in their communities.”
The University System of Georgia’s African-American Male Initiative is a statewide initiative designed to increase the number of African-American males who complete their postsecondary education from any of the 26 USG institutions.
Its mission is to provide an integrated program model of academic and social tools that support students around adopting a positive mindset to complete classes, elevate their cumulative GPAs, matriculate through each academic level and graduate. The GSC AAMI will also be a recognized asset to the GSC faculty and staff as a resource to engage students that have been identified as potential participants. In this Integrated Program Model, AAMI will work as a change agent for these students in an attempt to create an emotionally and mentally healthy environment.
“Our goal at Gordon State College is to ensure that we help all of our students achieve the Highlander Edge so that they are fully prepared to be our future innovators and leaders,” said Dr, Jeff Knighton, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs. “We are honored that our efforts have been recognized by the University System of Georgia through this funding that will help many fine young men be better prepared for their futures.”
As of fiscal year 2017, African-American males enrolled in the University System of Georgia were awarded: 566 Associate degrees; and earned 3,076 Bachelor’s degrees. AAMI is committed to significantly increase the graduation rates and the number of degrees conferred upon African-American males in the USG.
This will be achieved through the implementation of customized programming that is aligned with the AAMI Integrated Program Model. The model includes the following four key components:
- Academic Skills Enrichment: Provides supplemental literacy, writing, math and study-skill activities to help pre-college students transition to college academic life during the summer and assist enrolled AAMI participants with retention, progression, and graduation throughout the academic year.
- Student Support Services: Makes available internal and external resources, information and learning tools to enhance students’ academic and social successes.
- Adult & Peer Mentoring: Connects AAMI students to vetted adults and peers who encourage achievement, foster positive attitudes, as well as a sense of belonging through personal and academic support, while reinforcing RPG.
- Leadership Development: Provides multi-faceted professional and soft skills forums to help develop and strengthen participants’ leadership skills.
As such, AAMI alumni will have a positive impact on generations to come by contributing to increasing our state and nation’s educational attainment levels and economic growth.