At the University of Michigan, students were responding to the campus-wide Black Action Movement by creating black student organizations at their various colleges. Students saw a need for an organization to champion and ensure black students' survival in the business school. The BBSA was one of the first organizations formed by black students for black business students. The immediate goals of the organization were to increase minority enrollment, improve member academic performance, and retain black business students at both the BBA and MBA levels.
In 1970, there were only two black MBAs in a class of over 400 students; there were very few black BBA students in the undergraduate population as well. This low number of black students in both programs was the driving force behind the BBSA's goal of increasing enrollment of blacks at the school. BBSA members held workshops that helped students prepare for the application and admission processes for both the BBA and MBA programs. Other BBSA activities during the 1970s included networking social events for students designed to assist graduating students with the full-time job search.
Since 1970, the BBSA has been successful in achieving its goals. Through the continuing efforts of the organization and with strong support from the administration of the business school, the BBSA has enhanced the learning experience for all of its members.
