Educational emancipation: addressing retention and graduation of traditional aged undergraduate African American male students

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Jeffrey K. Coleman (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
H. Svi Shapiro

Abstract: This study examined the issues and factors that impact the college retention and graduation rate of traditional-aged African American male undergraduate students at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) in the United States. Currently, the structure of education is one that weeds out the successful from the unsuccessful, which benefits individuals from privileged backgrounds who have been provided with an education designed to help them excel. Often, the factors that impact success for African American males are related to race, class, family support, and other non-school related demographics. Predominantly White Institutions fail to provide African American male students with an environment that encourages their retention and graduation rate because they fail to support the academic and social needs of this population. This qualitative study included one case study on ten (10) African American males who were past participants of the Rites of Passage program, located at a research university in the southeastern United States. This study examined the conditions that lead to the success or failure amongst African American male undergraduates at predominantly White institutions. Findings and discussion from this study revealed: (a) conditions that lead to success or failure of African American male undergraduate students at PWIs; (b) implications of an education and schooling process that is emancipating for African American males; and (c) creating curricular and co-curricular emancipating experiences for African American males at PWIs. Implications of this study also prescribe a blueprint for developing a process of schooling and education that is emancipating for African American males.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2015
Keywords
African American Male, College Student, Educational Emancipation, Graduation, Retention, Success
Subjects
African American male college students
African American men $x Education (Higher)
College dropouts $x Prevention
College attendance
Academic achievement

Email this document to