The Black Diaspora in Higher Education:A Discussion of Methods for Engaging & Promoting Student

Success among Black Male Students

Dr. LeRodrick Terry

Shorter University

Midwest Scholars Conference

Indianapolis, IN

March 4, 2011

Overview

1. Problem Statement

2. Existing Studies

3. Enrollment Rates

4. Graduation Rates

5. Est. Best Practices

6. Factors

7. Student Dev Theory

8. Implications

9. Recommendations

11/25/2014 MSC 2011 2

Statement of Problem

Diaspora~ Any people forced or induced to leave;

dispersal of people.

• Black Males in Higher Education

• Declining Enrollment & Retention Rates

• Poor Graduation Rates

• Best Practices: Academic Support?

• Student Satisfaction & Student Success

• Societal Implications

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Existing Studies

• HBCU vs. PWI

• Underrepresented in

Adult Education

• Black Males vs. Black

Females

• Black Males vs. White

Males

• Social Identity &

Campus

Environments

• The “Prison Boom”

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Enrollment & Graduation Rates

HBCU

• 37% of total enrollment

• 31% of total graduates

• 150% of time since

starting classes

Traditional

• 4% of total enrollment

• 3% of total graduates

• 150% of time since

starting classes

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Best Practices

• Campus Involvement

– Student organizations

– Fraternities/Greek Letter Org

– Inter-Collegiate Sports

• Support Systems

– Social (peers)

– Academic (instructors)

– Mentors

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FACTORS

• Hurdles for Minorities

– 1st generation college students

– Financial

– Under-prepared

• Lack of Diversity

– Campus Culture

• Programming for Underrepresented Students

– Academic Support Services

– Counseling Services

– Remediation & Orientation for minority/at-risk

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RECOMMENDATIONS

• Pre-Assessments of Student Ability

– Non-Traditional

• Restructuring of Admissions Procedures

• Identifying predicators of student success

• Student Programming

• Diversity Initiatives11/25/2014 MSC 2011 8

Implications

• Enrollment Rates

• Attrition Rates

• Student Success

• Civil Rights Act

– Affirmative Action

– Cultural Pluralism & Diversity

• Idealism vs. Pragmatism?

– An “Educated” Society

– Goals of the Institution11/25/2014 MSC 2011 9

Questions?

Thank you for your participation