The Trump administration has taken steps providing financial support for historically Black colleges and universities and reducing support for Hispanic Serving Institutions (and here). The administration also has sought to curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

As often is the case, California is headed in its own direction. My school, the University of California, Davis, recently announced that it was is in the inaugural class of California universities and colleges designated as Black-Serving Institutions, or BSIs, under a state initiative recognizing those that “excel at providing academic resources to Black and African American students.”  The new BSIs included 30+ institutions including UC Berkeley and UC Davis; three California State University campuses; 25 California community colleges; and one private university.

California Senate Bill 1348, passed into law in 2024, affirms that, “Supporting Black and African American students attending postsecondary educational institutions in California serves the interests of all Californians,” and seeks to address the barriers and disparities that have prevented them from fully benefitting from post-secondary education.

Eleni Kounalakis, California’s lieutenant governor and chair of the program’s board, announced the selection of institutions.

The BSI designation may be a way of signaling to African American applicants that a university is for them. The California program thus may have admissions impacts.