Overview: The Re-Envisioning Culture Network (REC Network) is a group of diverse individuals across institutions of higher education, STEM careers, K-12 education, Black cultural spaces, the arts, and the larger community who strive to enhance the STEM experiences and outcomes of Black undergraduate students in the biological sciences. Through various activities and events, the REC Network strives to address the issue of retaining Black students in undergraduate biology by proposing and enacting strategies that transform the culture of undergraduate biology (i.e., the norms, values, beliefs, ideologies, and practices) rather than focusing on strategies to transform Black students.

Mission: To build a diverse group of educators, students, community members, and STEM professionals to transform the culture of undergraduate biology education to better meet the needs and desires of Black students in STEM. 

Purpose: To identify, propose, and provide strategies and practices that retain Black undergraduate students in the Biological Sciences through graduate and professional career endeavors by centering, celebrating, and embracing Black culture.

Objectives:

• Develop and grow a network of diverse individuals committed to supporting the mission and purpose of the REC Network.
• Identify the culture of Undergraduate Biology Education, (e.g., norms, values, beliefs, practices, and ideologies) and which components of it facilitate challenges for Black student retention.
• Name and target structures that perpetuate systems of oppression that functionally marginalize Black students given their racial identity and other salient social identities (e.g., gender, gender identity expression, sexuality, religion, ability, socioeconomic status, etc.).
• Collaborate (in large group and small group settings) with others to curate and share new and existing resources, and tools that would aid in better defining, examining, and addressing the problem of retaining Back students in undergraduate biology education.
• Disseminate the work and outcomes of the network to expand its reach and possibilities.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (DBI-ID:2018532). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.