Douglas here, stepping in for Michel.

Statistics get kicked around a lot in the news business. Most of the time I cringe at the sight of a percent sign. But some numbers are undeniably important - and to me at least - shocking. Take this for example: An AP report that just 29% of men at Historically Black Universities and Colleges (HBCU's) get a degree within 6 years - a graduation rate several points lower than the national average for African American students. That was news to me - that black men may be LESS likely to graduate at HBCU's. Turns out its not such a shocker for others, particularly those who live with the numbers everyday.

We wanted to hear from a couple HBCU presidents to get their take on the story. We invited Morehouse College President Robert Franklin and Philander Smith College President Walter Kimbrough. Ironically, neither men were at all surprised by the numbers. In fact, for Kimbrough, helping more students earn diplomas is not just a concern, its one of his top priorities. Philander Smith has a graduation rate of just 28%. Why so low? He says it has a lot do with the priorities of his college - and many other HBCU's. For years, he says, HBCU's were focused on getting black students IN, but not OUT. Now Kimbrough says he's trying to shift the focus from access to success.

Morehouse College, on the other hand, has an enviable graduation rate of about 60%, which happens to be a little higher than the national average of about 55%. I don't know about you, but I found this number just as alarming. Only a little more than half of undergrad college students in America graduate. That's a number to keep in mind.

Take a listen to our conversation and let us know what you think. Are you a college student who's having a hard time getting to the finish line? Or thinking about college, but not sure if its worth the risk? Tell us what's on your mind.

Also - an update on a story we've been following. On Monday we talked to Dallas Assistant Police Chief Floyd Simpson about a controversy surrounding one of his patrol officers, Robert Powell. On March 17, Powell pulled over NFL running back Ryan Moats for running a red light. Moats was rushing his family to the hospital to be with his mother-in-law. But despite Moats' pleas - caught on the officer's dashboard cam - the officer detained him in the hospital parking lot, during which time his mother-in-law died. The chief of police apologized for the incident and put the officer on administrative leave while an investigation proceeded. Today, news that the officer resigned. Here's the article in the Dallas Morning News.

Stay tuned tomorrow. We're checking in on President Obama's trip to Europe. And Mexican electronic rock group Kinky joins us for a performance chat.

3:54 - April 1, 2009

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