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More African-Americans are attending college than ever before.  But the biggest challenge isn’t getting Blacks to enroll in college, its making sure they graduate.  And making sure that they’ve studied the college level courses in high school so they need to take remedial courses before they enter college.  On a special two hour Afternoons with Amos there was plenty of frank talk and discussion about reducing the achievement gap among African-American college students.  Dr. Michael Lomax, President/CEO of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) brought his expertise on this issue from a national perspective.  Teresa Lubbers, Chair of Indiana’s Commission on Higher Education talked about the steps Indiana is taking with its publicly supported universities to mandate that the racial/ethnic achievement gap in the state be sharply reduced by 2018 and eliminated by 2025.  Associate Professor of Education at IUPUI Lori Patton-Davis shared the perspective on the issue from a university’s perspective while Robert Henderson of the Indiana Action League Conference talked from a grass roots perspective including his experience working with HBCU’s and Black students and parents on helping young people achieve their dreams of a college education.  To put some perspective on the issue, Black Indiana high school graduates in 2011 who attended Indiana’s state supported universities and college, xx% needed to take remedial classes. The four year graduation rates of Black students at Indiana’s public universities are woeful. At Ball State University only 18.2% of Blacks graduate on time in four years; at Indiana University/Bloomington it’s 19.8%; at Purdue/West Lafayette its 19.9%, at IUPUI its only 3.4%;  at Indiana State University 10.0%. Listeners and Amos engaged in a lively, provocative, energized, spirited discussion about an issue that has been rarely discussed in African-Americans communities until.  It’s a special Afternoons with Amos that the entire community should hear and rehear.  Click the Links to Hear the Full Two Part Program on Reducing the Achievement Gap for Blacks in College.  Part 1 Runs 55 Minutes.   Part 2 Runs 48 Minutes.   ©2013 WTLC/Radio One.