BAMIT ANNUAL Meeting DISCUSSION

The BAMIT Annual Meeting was held on September 28, 2024, with over 70 attendees with approximately half attending in person.

 The meeting included the installation of new board members, and focused on the challenges faced by the MIT community, particularly regarding admissions and student support, and the need for increased engagement and specific actions from alumni. Key points included the importance of direct communication with students, leveraging existing programs like MITES, and the necessity for alumni to actively participate in advocacy, communication, and fundraising efforts.

 The meeting concluded with a call to action for all attendees to actively engage in the outlined initiatives and support the collective efforts to improve the experience and representation of Black students at MIT, as well as a call for more volunteers to join the board and support its various committees.

Installation  of Board Members,  Roles, and Acknowledgements

  • Patrick Gerdes: Chair

  • Anthony Fedd: Vice Chair

  • Catherine Holden: Recording Secretary

  • Tisha Turner: Treasurer and Finance Chair

  • Lincoln Chandler: Membership Chair

  • Debra Carlton and Ralph Taylor-Smith: Programming Co-Chairs

  • Crystal Dixon and Michael Dixon: K-12 STEM Committee Co-Chairs

  • Samuel Nixon: Outreach and Engagement, Travel Program, Gospel Choir

  • Rosita Parker: Returning to the Board and behind-the-scenes work

  • Philip Rigueur: Temporary absence due to family situation

  • Al Tervalon: Elder statesperson providing insight and guidance

Departing Board Members: Rocklyn Clarke and Heather Cogdell were thanked for their service

Acknowledgment of the support from Moana Bentin from MIT AA and her team, with a token of appreciation presented.

Committee Needs
Advocacy, Strategic Advocacy, Communications, and Fundraising committees need additional support and chairs.

Student Support and Engagement
Discussion on the importance of engaging with students, particularly through events like the annual family gathering with BSU and addressing their immediate concerns such as admissions numbers and campus life.

Plans to help students refresh the BSU lounge and address more urgent topics like admissions and campus engagement.

Emphasis on mentoring students to help them become ambassadors for MIT and support their navigation through difficult experiences.

Admissions and Affirmative Action

The significant drop in admissions numbers for Black students was discussed, with a focus on understanding and addressing the impact of the Supreme Court decision on affirmative action.

Efforts to engage with the administration to address admissions issues and the importance of presenting concrete solutions and action plans.

The need to improve the Educational Counselors' process and ensure more Black students take advantage of interviews, which have a higher admit rate.

 Communication and Coordination
The importance of effective communication between students, alumni, and the administration was highlighted, with a call for better use of existing channels like the info@bammit.org email.

Plans to set up a listserv and use Slack for better internal communication and coordination among alumni and students.

Financial Aid and Support
The impact of the FAFSA debacle on financial aid packages and the need to address financial aid gaps to attract more Black students.

The need for more fundraising efforts to support programs like MITES and ensure they have the necessary resources.

Program Support and Expansion
Emphasis on the importance of the MITES program in preparing young students for selective institutions like MIT and the need for continued support and expansion.

Discussion on potential new initiatives to support students earlier in high school and leverage existing programs to reach more young people.

Alumni Involvement
Calls for more alumni to get involved in various roles, including as Educational Counselors and in supporting student initiatives.

Proposal for a task force or advisory board to work with admissions and other administrative offices to address holistic student support.

Addressing Student Concerns
Addressing the deteriorating campus climate and the need for alumni to support students facing challenges, including those related to protests and administrative actions.

Encouragement for alumni to provide direct support to students and engage with their issues in real-time.

Strategic Planning
The need for both long-term strategic planning and immediate tactical actions to address the current admissions crisis and improve student support.

Opportunities to collaborate with other underrepresented groups to increase collective impact and support.

 Action Items and Next Steps

  • Setting up recurring Zoom calls for alumni to strategize and coordinate efforts.

  • Forming task forces or advisory committees to work with admissions and other administrative bodies.

  • Organizing webinars and outreach programs to inform and encourage Black students to apply to MIT.

  • Increasing efforts in fundraising and advocacy to support programs and initiatives that benefit Black students.

 Other Tasks:

  •  Develop strategies to increase BAMIT membership.

  •  Engage with current members to understand their needs and concerns.

  •  Plan and organize programming events to include diverse and inclusive programming.

  •  Identify potential speakers and topics for upcoming events.

  •  Develop outreach programs for K-12 students.

  •  Support the development of educational materials for K-12 outreach.

  •  Assist in setting up communication channels for alumni and students.

  •  Coordinate with the admissions office to get a list of black ECs.

  •  Plan outreach to students and parents about MIT admissions.

  •  Develop strategies to address admissions and student support issues.

  •  Engage with alumni to increase participation in board activities.

  •  Support fundraising efforts for BAMIT initiatives.

  •  Continue to advocate for diversity and inclusion at the corporation level.

  •  Support efforts to improve communication between students and alumni.

  •  Engage with current students to understand their experiences.

  •  Provide feedback to the board on student concerns and suggestions.

  •  Collaborate with alumni to push for institutional changes.

  •  Participate in outreach efforts to prospective Black students.

Additional Comments and Suggestions

  • Building trust between students, alumni, and the administration through open communication and transparency.

  • Utilizing the influence of Black alumni in administrative/governance roles to advocate for necessary changes and support.

  • Focus on concrete, measurable actions rather than promises to ensure accountability and progress.

 Conclusion

The meeting concluded with a call to action for all attendees to actively engage in the outlined initiatives and support the collective efforts to improve the experience and representation of Black students at MIT.