Who We Are
The Black Scholars Initiative (BSI)*, which was established in 2017, is a campus-wide program for entering Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee students who self identify as Black and/or African American and was designed in content and focus to reflect Berklee’s roots in African American musical traditions with the goal of fostering a strong sense of community, support, belonging, and cultural history on campus.
What We Do
Entering Student Pre-Orientation Program
BSI Pre-Orientation is our not-to-be missed signature event, held each fall semester during the week prior to college-wide student orientation. The core program sessions feature social and cultural components to strengthen students’ understanding of themselves within the context of Black and African American traditions.
Academic Year Programs and Events
BSI hosts social and cultural programs throughout the academic year to inspire community-building while helping students achieve their personal, academic, and artistic goals. Our programs include workshops with the Career Center and Academic Advising; judgment-free study sessions with core music tutoring as well as the Ear Training and Harmony departments; and opportunities to connect with departments and peers through themed family dinners.
Research and Assessment
We track the academic outcomes of students who participated in BSI and examine the relationship between participation in BSI with course grades, retention, and graduation rates.
Mentoring and Advising
Our mentoring program pairs BSI students with a faculty or staff mentor from the College or Conservatory, and the BSI ambassadors facilitate study sessions and community dialogues.
*The name of the organization changed from the Berklee Summer Initiative to the Black Scholars Initiative in May 2021.