Findings from a study on system supports needed to achieve equity in higher education for black Americans are synthesized in this report. The needed support systems are identified as: (1) Federal educational policy; (2) research; (3) human resources; (4) socioeconomic/sociopolitical support; (5) higher education planning; and (6) monitoring and evaluation. Research findings point out the major problems stemming from the inadequacies of each of these social, political, and educational structures in providing the climate necessary for the advancement of black colleges and universities. The problems include an inadequate research base on issues of concern to blacks; black underrepresentation in significant decision-making processes; social and political barriers to black advancement (such as institutionalized racism, low black economic status, and intellectual conservatism); lack of effective higher education planning; and limited monitoring and evaluation relevant to black higher education. Recommendations are proposed to remedy inadequacies in each of the identified support systems. (Author/MJL)