THE MALE INITIATIVE ON LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE (MILE) AND ITS IMPACT ON RETENTION AND PERSISTENCE OF BLACK MEN AT HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUs)

A strong body of research has documented the supportive environments of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and their impact on facilitating student success. Notwithstanding the consistency of these findings, recent reports and empirical research have highlighted the problems that HBCUs are experiencing with Black male enrollment, campus engagement, retention, success, and graduation. The purpose of this article is to discuss the Male Initiative on Leadership and Excellence (MILE) and to describe its impact on retention and persistence of Black men at an HBCU. Hopefully, the MILE will inspire administrators and student affairs practitioners at HBCUs to adopt a similar initiative to positively increase academic success among Black men on their campuses.