SWAG: Scholars Working Ambitiously to Graduate

Support Scholars’s Working Ambitiously to Graduate (SWAG) programming for the 2019-2020 school year: 2020 Be the Change Conference, SWAG Annual Report, and Peer Mentorship Program. 

Overview of SWAG: Scholars Working Ambitiously to Graduate (S.W.A.G), was founded in 2011, and is a male student-run mentorship organization that pairs primarily black upperclass mentors with underclassmen with the goal of increasing the graduation and retention rates of black males on Cornell's campus.  We strive to strengthen the black male community by fostering a collaborative and supportive environment, consequently promoting the highest levels of educational attainment for black males on campus. We also recognize the need of graduation and retention rates from other communities of color and include anyone striving to succeed academically in our organization.

Be the Change Conference: SWAG is looking to host a campus wide, day-long conference to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Burning of the Africana Research Center, educate the Cornell community on pressing issues in the Cornell and broader Black community, and encourage attendees to use the conference as a platform to further their engagement in the community. The day will be largely divided into three segments: The Past, The Present & The Future. The day will include a screening of the documentary, Agents of Change, an art installation, professional development workshops, panel discussions with alumni and faculty, and a keynote address to be announced. 

Annual Report: The purpose of the report is to provide a tangible resource, capable of providing members of the Cornell community and authentic lens into the current state of Black Cornell. The report will contain and make public the following information: Relevant historical data on the status of black students at Cornell are not limited to: Comparative Graduation Rates, Current Total Enrollment of Black Students and Relevant Subgroups, Diversity Statistics for Student Run Organizations, profiles on exceptional members of the community, etc.

SWAG Mentorship Program: The backbone of SWAG’s work is its mentorship program. SWAG works to pair underclassmen of color with upperclassmen mentors, and facilitates a variety of events each semester to promote academic success and strengthen community amongst members. Events include but are not limited to: Study with SWAG sessions, Spring Paintball, House Dinners, Mentor Outreach, etc.