The H. Fred Simons African American Cultural Center (AACC) was established in 1968 to support African American students in the pursuit of a higher education academic experience.The AACC is committed to promoting cultural preservation, leadership development, academic excellence, and intercultural communication through programs and activities that are designed to give students an appreciation and an understanding of the heritage and cultural experiences of African Americans and people of African descent in the United States and throughout the world.
Contributions to this fund support projects at the AACC such as:
- The Peer Mentor Program (P.A².S.S – Preparing African American Students to Sustain Success), which seeks to improve academic performance, retention and graduation rates of African American students, while also assisting first-year and transfer students with their transition to the UConn community.
- Recognition and celebratory events including Black History Month, Homecoming, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Observance, and Kwanzaa.
- Community outreach which brings middle and high school students from New Haven, Bridgeport, Hartford and East Hartford to campus each semester to participate in motivational, educational, cultural and recreational experiences.
