During 2018 and 2019, TEAM-UP, the National Task Force to Elevate African American representation in Undergraduate Physics and Astronomy, examined the reasons for the persistent underrepresentation of African Americans in physics and astronomy. The report was authored and compiled by a panel of experts from the fields of physics, astronomy, and the social sciences. The task force was chartered by the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Physics (AIP) and charged with producing a detailed report including recommendations to address the issue. TEAM-UP conducted a major research study that included student surveys, department chair surveys, interviews with African American students, and site visits to five high-performing physics department. The Task Force also presented a review of the literature and received input from several hundred individuals to guide the work.

TEAM-UP identified five factors responsible for the success or failure of African American students in physics and astronomy: Belonging, Physics Identity, Academic Support, Personal Support, and Leadership and Structures. The task force finds that African American students have the same drive, motivation, intellect, and capability to obtain physics/astronomy degrees as students of other races and ethnicities but face ongoing and persistent roadblocks in completing these degrees. Those barriers include lack of a supportive departmental environment, enormous financial challenges, and a pervading sense of non-belonging. TEAM-UP found that faculty encouragement, recognition, and representation are key enablers of physics identity. The authors suggest ways to retain students through mentoring, advising, and cohesive support aimed directly at African-American student success. Also included is a model framework to develop evidence-based action plans at the departmental level.