Data & Reporting Strategies to Drive African American/Black Student Success

Session Abstract: Current race/ethnicity data collection practices often undercount African American/Black and other minoritized students—particularly those who identify with multiple racial or ethnic groups—resulting in gaps in research, planning, and support. This session draws from You Can’t Count If You’re Not Counted, a position paper from The RP Group, to present more inclusive data collection and reporting strategies. Participants will explore federal and state guidelines, implications of current categorization practices, and recommendations for adopting “check all that apply” methods, open-text identity fields, and inclusive reporting frameworks. Attendees will gain tools to interrogate their own institutional practices, learn how more accurate data can improve equity-centered decision-making, and identify strategies to better support historically underserved student populations.

Keywords: Equity, Inclusion, Marginalized Students, Underserved Populations