The following is the Black History Month message sent by Mark E. Ojakian, the president of the Connecticut State University System, to student and faculty of the state’s community colleges.

Each February, we celebrate the myriad contributions of black individuals and communities to academia, civil rights, government, the arts, popular culture, and every facet of American life. Pioneers like Lewis Howard Latimer – who helped invent the light bulb – and Sarah Boone – who made and patented substantial improvements to the ironing board – and Ebenezer D. Bassett – the first African-American graduate of CCSU, who went on to become a U.S. ambassador – were among the many African American trailblazers who contributed to Connecticut’s innovative spirit.

At the same time, we must reflect on the legacy of systemic oppression on which the black experience in America was founded, and which, in far too many ways, continues to this day. One of the most obvious examples of that oppression is the continued effort to suppress the power of the African-American vote through voter suppression, gerrymandering, and other concerted disenfranchisement efforts.

It is entirely fitting that the theme of this year’s Black History Month is “African Americans and the Vote,” in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment and the 150th anniversary of the Fifteenth Amendment. It is a reminder that with progress comes setbacks, and we must continue the fight to uphold every individual’s right to participate in our representative democracy.

This year, our colleges and universities are working to ensure students of all backgrounds have the opportunity both to register to vote, and to participate in the critical 2020 Census. We know that every person and every vote counts.

Unfortunately, here in Connecticut, we have fallen behind in higher educational equity despite concerted efforts by our institutions. The most recent data for the community colleges – which serve two thirds of Connecticut’s African-American college students – show that the graduation rate for black students stands at just 8%, compared to 21% for white students and success rates (graduation and transfer) of just 25% for black students compared to 39% for white students. We can and must do better – and that involves making systemic changes to ensure the necessary supports are in place to give every student, regardless of their background or life circumstance, the opportunity to succeed within our institutions. We are making progress on our Guided Pathways approach, which has helped to dramatically reduce the equity gap in other states.

Our colleges and universities must be a part of the solution to systemic inequities. At our best, we offer students of all backgrounds the opportunity for upward mobility. Together that should be our mission every day.

Mark E. Ojakian is president of the Connecticut State University System.