Please see the section "Benefits of BCCs" which begins on page 65 of this ebook.

Please see chapter 7 of this ebook, A Home Away From Home: Black Cultural Centers as Supportive Environments for African American Collegians at White Institutions. It "illustrates how BCCs provide supports that African American students at PWIs view as critical to their success in college."

This article examines the historical and contemporary context of black culture centers (BCCs) and offers findings from a recent study (conducted by this author) on the role of the centers in the lives of black students attending predominantly white institutions (PWIs). The author's research revealed that these centers make a powerful difference in student learning because they foster an environment that promotes leadership development, a sense of community, cultural identity, and a sense of mattering--all components necessary for engagement in the learning process. From black students, she learned that other campus entities that work to foster similar positive learning environments have far less success with black students than BCCs. The study makes a strong argument for retaining these centers on American college and university campuses.

The author notes the value of Black Cultural Centers on predominantly White campuses, and what is lost when Black Cultural Centers are eliminated in favor of multicultural centers.

This paper discusses the role of black cultural centers on university campuses, focusing on whether black cultural centers or multicultural centers best meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body and society. It examines the historical role of black cultural centers as vehicles to promote educational opportunity, student retention, and ethnic solidarity on predominantly white university campuses. In then looks at the transition from black cultural centers to multicultural centers on many campuses, discussing sensitive issues related to the maintenance of black cultural centers. Using examples from the experience of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in dealing with these issues, it argues that, despite budget cutbacks, universities need to preserve black cultural centers as unique institutions while seeking to create multicultural centers or programs to meet the needs of other minority students.

Key findings indicated that exemplary BCCs are a major part of the university
fabric and play a significant role in the Black undergraduate student experience. These
findings are crucial to future research pertaining to BCCs. Administrators, BCC staff,
faculty and students at other campuses with BCCs can gain a greater understanding of
how BCCs impact PWIs. This study can also be viewed as a foundational tool for
establishing, improving and continuing the tradition of BCCs at PWIs.

Please see the "Mirror Artifacts" section beginning on page 113 of this book.