Albuquerque Public Schools
Black Student Union
Choice Check: Black Student Union
Advocating, empowering, teaching, and exploring the Black experience
The volunteer organization at several APS high schools promotes education, culture, and community, emphasizing mentorships, college readiness, and service learning.
Advisors serve as role models. Older students mentor younger ones. They talk about school, but they also chat about what's going on in their lives, and they offer help when needed.
Membership is diverse – students don’t have to be African American to belong to the Black Student Union. In addition to the academic and social benefits, the groups expect their members to volunteer their time to help others, learn about their culture and history, and apply for scholarships. They take trips to visit state colleges and universities as well as Historically Black Colleges.
BSU students are expected to maintain a 2.0 GPA, attend 80 percent of meetings, complete two service-learning projects, and be good at school. As a result of the high expectations and support provided by the BSU, nearly all of its members graduate from high school, and many go on to college or trade school.
What BSUs Do
- Advocate, Empower, Teach, and Explore the Black Experience
- Provide Academic Support
- Support Academic Achievement
- Emphasize Service Learning and Community Service
- Provide Mentorships, Leadership Training, Scholarships, and Internships
- Tour Local Universities and Historically Black Colleges
- Develop Business and Community Partnerships
- Celebrate Rites of Passage
More Information
Check with your high school to see if they have a Black Student Union among their extracurricular activities.