Morgan State University Forms Presidential Task Force to Address Decline in Black Male Enrollment

The State of Black Male Enrollment Initiative Will Investigate University’s 14% Decrease in Critical Student Population and Recommend Solutions to Reverse the Trend

BALTIMORE — In response to the alarming decline in Black male enrollment at Morgan State University, Maryland’s largest Historically Black Colleges or University (HBCU) and one of the nation’s fastest-rising research institutions, University President David K. Wilson has announced the formation of the Presidential Task Force on the State of Black Male Enrollment at Morgan. This initiative will examine the underlying causes of declining enrollment and retention of Black males in higher education while developing actionable solutions to reverse the trend at Morgan and possibly across HBCUs nationwide.

The formation of the task force follows the recent release of data from the American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM), which highlights a 25% drop in Black male enrollment at HBCUs since 2010, a rate exceeding the 22% decline seen across all U.S. higher education institutions. While Morgan has continued to set record-breaking total enrollment figures, becoming the nation’s third-largest HBCU last fall, its percentage of Black male students has decreased from 43% in 2015 to 37% in fall 2024, mirroring national trends. This issue has become a critical concern for President Wilson and the campus community, including students who have personally shared their concerns with him.

“Morgan has long been a leader in providing access and opportunity for Black males seeking higher education,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “The ongoing decline in Black male enrollment at HBCUs is a clarion call for action, and we will not stand idly by. 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.”

Leading this initiative will be Mark Barnes, Ph.D., associate professor of History and Geography, and Michael Sinclair, Ph.D., associate professor of Social Work, who will co-chair the task force. The group will consist of an interdisciplinary coalition of faculty, researchers, staff and students dedicated to developing innovative solutions that enhance recruitment, engagement and retention efforts.

The task force’s charge will include:

• Examining socioeconomic and cultural factors influencing Black male college enrollment;
• Identifying best practices and successful intervention models;
• Evaluating the student experience of Black males at Morgan to enhance support structures; and
• Providing a comprehensive set of recommendations to strengthen retention and graduation rates.

“This is a pivotal moment for higher education, and I am honored to serve in this capacity. 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,” said Dr. Sinclair. “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. I am proud to heed President Wilson’s call to action and work alongside my colleagues to ensure that Morgan remains a place where Black men thrive academically, professionally, and personally.”

Nationally, the decline in Black male enrollment is particularly pronounced at HBCUs (-25%) compared with predominantly white institutions (PWIs) (-22%), highlighting a unique challenge within the HBCU community. Researchers attribute the trend to a combination of economic pressures, shifting societal perceptions of college education and challenges in academic preparation and financial aid access. 

Morgan State University remains committed to addressing this crisis head-on, reaffirming its legacy as a champion for educational access and achievement among Black men. The findings and recommendations from the Presidential Task Force on the State of Black Male Enrollment at Morgan will be shared with University leadership and potentially the broader higher education community to help inform best practices nationwide.

For more information on Morgan State University’s presidential initiatives, visit: https://www.morgan.edu/office-of-the-president/initiatives.

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 academic programs leading to baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degrees, or certificates. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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Media Contacts:

Larry Jones or Dell Jackson, for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022