RCCA OCTOBER 2004 Dr. Elizabeth Burns Dr. Susan Scaggs

THE RETENTION OF BLACK MALE STUDENTS AT MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES: IDENTIFYING BEST PRACTICES IN RURAL MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGES RCCA OCTOBER 2004 Dr. Elizabeth Burns Dr. Susan Scaggs

A note from the Keynote The New Economy and Rural America We have got to improve access because… “The only road out of poverty runs by the school house” William Winter

The Problem • Black males are obviously missing among the ranks of graduating students in at least one community college in Mississippi • Research is needed to determine if this low graduation rate is universal to the MS Community/Junior College system

Two Fold Purpose • Identify Mississippi community colleges that graduate a high number of Black male students from their graduating student populations • Describe any programs, services, or strategies in place at those schools with high Black male graduation rates

Research Question 1 Which Mississippi public community/junior colleges have the highest retention rates among the Black male student population?

Research Question 2 Are there discernible differences in the retention rates of Black male students in the colleges within the Mississippi system?

Research Question 3 If there are differences in the retention rates, what programs and or strategies are in place at those community colleges with high graduation rates of their Black male student population?

Research Question 4 What lessons can be learned from the study of retention rates at Mississippi public community/junior colleges that can be applied as best practices for retention of Black male students?

Methodology • Two phases • Phase I – Quantitative look at graduation rates for Black male students according to IPEDS • Phase II – Qualitative look at practices at colleges identified as having high retention rates among Black male students

Phase I – A look at Mississippi community/junior colleges’ retention rates for Black males • Data were obtained from IPEDS Graduation Rates for all 15 public community/junior colleges in the state • And were ranked to identify those colleges with high graduation rates among the Black male student population

Phase II – A look at strategies to impact Black male retention at three Mississippi community/junior colleges • Data were gathered through a questionnaire and follow-up interviews with representatives from colleges with high retention rates • Themes were identified and described

A Review of Literature • Current enrollment and graduation trends for community college students • Recent retention efforts of community colleges • Economic considerations of the impact of an undereducated and unskilled segment of the MS workforce • Cultural considerations for Black men

National enrollment and graduation trends for community college students • 11.7% of the total enrollment at community colleges are Black students • 45% of Black students in higher ed are enrolled in community colleges • 19% of the Black students enrolled in community colleges earn a certificate or degree

Recent retention efforts of community colleges • Identify and address barriers to success • AACC Inclusion Statement • Make inclusion a central part of the mission • Institute and evaluate inclusion practices • Shape campus environment that models your community • Help students gain fuller understanding of human rights

Recent retention efforts of community colleges • Astin’s Student Involvement Theory • There is a relationship between involvement and success • The greater level of involvement the higher the rate of success • Tinto’s Retention Model • Interactions with Academic System • Interactions with Social System

Economic considerations • 36.4% of Mississippi’s population are Black • 21.4% of Mississippi’s population live in poverty • Less than 7% of Mississippi’s rural Black citizens have completed a college degree • “Increasing the state’s economic development prospects will depend on raising education levels of the racial and ethnic minorities” Rubin and Beaulieu

Cultural considerations for Black men • There are more Black men in prisons than in colleges and universities • Ogbu and lack of cultural support for higher education • Kunjufu and raising Black consciousness

Findings Research Question 1 Which Mississippi public community/junior colleges have the highest retention rates among the Black male student population? Three colleges were found to have better than 30% retention rate among the Black male student population

Black Male Graduation Rates at Mississippi Community and Junior Colleges Full time, first time degree or certificate seeking students College Percentage of Completers Within 150% A 35.1 B 31.9 C 31.9 D 25.4 E 23.4 F 23.1 G 22.3 H 18.2 I 16.5 J 16.0 K 16.0 L 15.2 M 14.3 N 12.3

Findings Research Question 2 Are there discernible differences in the retention rates of Black male students in the colleges within the Mississippi system? There are clear differences in the retention rates. The average retention rate for Black males in MS was 20.4%, overall retention rates were 22.8% The highest rate for Black male retention was 35.1% With the lowest rate of Black male retention at 12.3%

Black Male Full time, first time degree or certificate seeking students College Percentage of Completers Within 150% A 35.1 B Category I 31.9 C 31.9 D 25.4 E 23.4 F Category II 23.1 G 22.3 H 18.2 I 16.5 J 16.0 K Category III 16.0 L 15.2 M 14.3 N 12.3

Findings Research Question 3 If there are differences in the retention rates, what programs and or strategies are in place at those community colleges with high graduation rates of their Black male student population? Student Development Services for At Risk Students Course Placement Testing and Regulations Extracurricular Activities

Student Development • New student orientation • Freshman Experience Course for Credit • Tutoring • Career Centers • Work/Study Programs • Staff Development

Services for At Risk Students • Identification of At Risk Students • Developmental level course work • Monitoring student progress in remedial courses • Regular review of individual student attendance

Course Placement Testing and Regulations • Placement testing with basic skills assessment • Students waiving placement • Follow up to ensure accurate placement

Extracurricular Activities • BCC, and CCC all noted that Black men have the least opportunity to participate in clubs and organizations • All three colleges has heavy commitments to athletics • All three colleges have a band

Findings Research Question 4 What lessons can be learned from the study of retention rates at Mississippi public community/junior colleges that can be applied as best practices for retention of Black male students? Provide opportunities for students to become connected to the college

Provide opportunities for students to become connected to the college • Strong Orientation Programs • Accurate Course Placement • Monitor Class Attendance • Review Student Performance • Athletics • Peer Group Activities

Recommendations • A qualitative study is needed that would include interviews with Black male students who have dropped out of Mississippi public community and junior colleges. This study will provide a greater understanding of why Black men fail to graduate. • Further study is also needed to provide a comparison and contrast of Black student satisfaction among credit and non credit students.

Recommendations • A longitudinal study of Mississippi public community and junior college Black male transfer students is needed to measure success at the four year college and university level. • A study to examine the impact of minority faculty and administrator role models on Black male students is needed.

Recommendations • Utilization of a standardized organizational climate survey is suggested to determine impact of institutional climate on retention of Black males. • A thorough analysis of best practices in states with exemplary retention rates of Black males is needed to inform Mississippi colleges’ policies.

RCCA OCTOBER 2004 Dr. Elizabeth Burns Dr. Susan Scaggs