by Celeste Lawson On May 19, 2021, Central State University and Des Moines Public Schools collaborated on a virtual student recruitment activity. I first reached out to Central State University, which is listed among the nation’s 101 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and then to Iowa’s largest public school system, Des Moines Public Schools, in order to provide students, targeting graduating seniors, with information on Central State University and ways to apply for admission and financial assistance. Accordingly, I volunteered my services as the Project Coordinator. The rationale for selecting a HBCU institution, was to provide postsecondary educational opportunities to a more diverse population of students. The project contact for Des Moines Public Schools was their Counseling & Postsecondary Success Coordinator. While we were able to have Central State University provide very pertinent admissions and financial aid information, there was a very small number of Des Moines Public Schools students who participated, and it was reported that it appeared those students were only juniors or sophomores. This is disappointing because HBCUs offer some of the best programs for students seeking higher education. Although the results were not what we expected, they provided much from which to learn. Therefore, I have communicated my thoughts to the appropriate office at Des Moines Public Schools with regard to my assessment of the project.
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