Morgan State University is on a mission to determine the reasoning behind a decline in Black male enrollment and retention in higher education.
According to The Baltimore Sun, the Historically Black College and University based in Baltimore, MD, has established a task force aimed at helping reverse the ongoing trend, both at Morgan State and potentially at HBCUs nationwide.
Morgan State President David K. Wilson said the trend has become a critical concern for the university’s campus and students are worried as well.
“Morgan has long been a leader in providing access and opportunity for Black males seeking higher education,” Wilson said.“The ongoing decline in Black male enrollment at HBCUs is a clarion call for action, and we will not stand idly by.”
He continued, “This task force will engage in rigorous research to understand the forces at play and develop evidence-based strategies to ensure that more Black men not only enroll at Morgan but thrive and complete their degrees.”
According to Morgan State, the task force will consist of an interdisciplinary alliance of faculty, researchers, staff, and students working to develop solutions to improve recruitment, engagement, and retention.
Mark Barnes, an associate professor of history and geography, will lead the initiative, while Michael Sinclair, an associate professor of social work, will serve as task force co-chair.
The formation of the task force follows an August 2024 report from the American Institute for Boys and Men, which found that HBCUs have seen a general enrollment decline of 11% since 2010, AFROTECH™ noted at the time.
While the trend is evident across higher education, the drop in enrollment among Black male students is more significant, with a 25% decrease at HBCUs compared to a 22% decline at all institutions.
Despite only a marginal percentage difference, the impact on HBCUs is significant because Black male students comprise a larger portion of their student bodies, according to the institute.
As part of its work, Morgan State’s task force will examine the socioeconomic and cultural factors influencing Black male college enrollment, per the university. It will also identify best practices and successful intervention models, evaluate the Black male experience at Morgan State, and provide comprehensive recommendations to strengthen retention and graduation rates.
“This is a pivotal moment for higher education, and I am honored to serve in this capacity,” Sinclair said, according to Morgan State. “Addressing the decline in Black male enrollment requires a thoughtful, cross-sectional analysis of the economic, social, and institutional factors at play—and the broader socioeconomic impact on Black families and communities.”
Morgan State became the nation’s third-largest HBCU last fall with 10,739 students, following North Carolina A&T with 14,311 students and Howard University with 13,500, per The Sun. However, the percentage of Black male students at Morgan State decreased from 43% in 2015 to 37% in fall 2024.
“Our goal is not only to understand why these trends are occurring but to implement meaningful solutions that will empower Black men to see higher education as an attainable and rewarding path,” Sinclair added in his statement.
