2017 HBCU/BSI Physics Chairs Summit Report

Over the last two decades, the percentage of physics bachelor's degrees earned by African Americans has decreased substantially. In an alarming trend, the numbers of physics majors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Black Serving Institutions (BSIs), which used to educate over half of all African Americans with physics bachelor’s degrees, have declined significantly. The APS Committee on Minorities (COM) felt a sense of urgency to understand the decline and identify actions that could be taken to reverse it. COM decided to organize a one-day summit of HBCU/BSI physics chairs to discuss these issues and develop recommendations. In preparation, a COM member called all 38 HBCU/BSI physics chairs to ask about challenges affecting their departments and inform topic areas for discussion. The calls were also used to personally invite chairs to attend the summit.

The HBCU/BSI Physics Chairs Summit was held in downtown Atlanta on Sept. 28, 2017. The 31 attendees included 16 HBCU/BSI physics chairs or their delegates, eight COM members, five APS staff, and two American Institute of Physics staff. The agenda minimized presentation time to hold a series of focused discussions with specific objectives. Discussions generated many recommendations, which were evaluated by COM as to whether they were actionable, feasible, and relevant.