On Thursday, August 24, at 1:00 PM ET, student advocates from the Ohio Student Association (OSA) will host a virtual press conference coinciding with the publication of the Ohio Black Student Equity Report. The report is the most comprehensive study to date of Black university student experiences and needs in Ohio.

The report is based on interviews with 361 students, covering 12 public, 4-year universities and 1 private university in Ohio. Students were surveyed on their experiences with financial aid, campus policing, and a host of other campus and state issues.

The report seeks to drive more equitable policymaking for Black students by assessing students’ direct experiences. The authors cite two policy developments, both in June 2023, that underscore the report’s urgency: the US Supreme Court’s rejection of affirmative action in college admissions; and the introduction of Ohio Senate Bill 83, which would curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion programs as well as student and faculty speech on racial equity issues.

The picture for Black students in stark: In Ohio, 19% of Black adults have a bachelor’s degree, compared to 31% of white adults. These figures mirror national trends and help drive racial disparities in income and wealth. Meanwhile, the state’s biggest campus, Ohio State, reported the most hate crimes per capita in the Big 10 Conference.

OSA is a statewide, grassroots organization led by young people and anchored by student-led chapters on college campuses across the state. It produced the report in collaboration with education scholars Everrett A. Smith, PhD, of the University of Cincinnati, and Antar A. Tichavakunda, PhD, of the University of California–Santa Barbara.

Link to register for Zoom Conference: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsdumgrzguGdZXHQUTaLnPIndXtehG4PlC#/registration