The Diverse Learning Environments (DLE) project was designed to contribute much needed knowledge about factors that impact the graduation and retention rates of African Americans and other diverse student populations in higher education. Funded by the Ford Foundation, the DLE explored how campus climate, campus policies, curricular and co-curricular environments, interplay and impact student outcomes. African Americans were the only group in the study to identify stereotypes and stereotype threat as the biggest barriers to their academic success. This article highlights the challenges African Americans face related to stereotypes and stereotype threat, and contends that interventions designed to improve the achievement and degree attainment of the group must focus on eliminating the power of stereotypes in college environments.