Who We Are
The Black Scholars Initiative (BSI) was established in 2017 as a campus-wide program for entering Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee students. BSI offers multicultural and intercultural programming that highlights the African diaspora's contributions to Berklee and the arts, while supporting students in reaching their personal, academic, and artistic goals. This initiative fuels students' passions and talents, honors their diverse backgrounds, and helps them build a strong foundation for success at Berklee and in their future endeavors.
*The name of the organization changed from the Berklee Summer Initiative to the Black Scholars Initiative in May 2021.
What We Do
Entering Student Pre-Orientation Program
Students' Berklee journey begins with the Black Scholars Initiative Pre-Orientation Program, which is held each year prior to the start of the college-wide fall student orientation. This program features sessions ranging from social and cultural topics to performance and community-building activities, always aiming to strengthen students’ understanding of themselves within Black and African American traditions.
Academic Year Programs and Events
Each semester, students have the opportunity to engage in workshops with our campus partners, like the Berklee Bridge (Success Advising, Career Center, Health and Wellness, and more) and Africana Studies; and social enhancing opportunities, like community dinners, field trips, and performance events.
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.