Exploring Minority Student Perceptions Of The Effects Of Campus Culture On Minority Student Academic And Social Integration At A Predominately White Technical College

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore the effects of campus culture on minority students' perceptions of their academic success at a predominately White technical college in Pennsylvania. Critical Race Theory (CRT) formed the foundation for the study and defines the researches stances. In addition, retention models as identified by the literature, specifically Kuh and Love's (2000) cultural perspective on student departure, and studies investigating campus culture at PWIs develop the second and third prongs of the conceptual framework. The study sought to answer the central research question: How do minority students perceive the effect of campus culture on their integration to campus? Current students at the site institution participated in focus groups and responded to a qualitative open-ended questionnaire. Existing institutional campus climate quantitative data was analyzed by race to determine if there was significant difference in feeling a sense of belonging between students of different racial backgrounds. Data were analyzed and coded to inform results. The findings revealed four major themes regarding minority student perceptions of the effect of campus climate on academic and social integration: (a) Campus Climate, (b) Campus Involvement, (c) Support of Faculty and Staff, and (d) Positive Academic Experiences. The findings were situated within the literature to present three results of the study, (a) Participants perceive the campus climate to be inhospitable, (b) Participants are very engaged in the academic experiences, and (c) Participants have had positive social engagement experiences through events and organizations that have provided a niche to minority students. The desired outcome of the study was to use the findings to guide future practice in the area of increasing retention and graduation rates of minority students through creating inclusive campus environments.

"I feel like they act like they're so diverse and multicultural.This is not a representation of how it is for people who go here.""I know of several occasions, if it weren't for several faculty of color, I don't know how I would have made it from one day to the next." -- from student interviewsHave three decades of integration and multicultural initiatives in higher education delivered a better education to all students? Are majority and minority students reaping similar benefits, specifically in predominantly white colleges? Do we know what a multicultural campus should look like, and how to design one that is welcoming to all students and promotes a learning environment?Through a unique qualitative study involving seven colleges and universities considered national models of commitment to diversity, this book presents the views and voices of minority students on what has been achieved and what remains to be done. The direct quotations that form the core of this book give voice to Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American and bi-racial students. They offer in their own words their perceptions of their campus cultures and practices, the tensions they encounter and what works for them.Rather than elaborating or recommending specific models or solutions, this book aims to provide insights that will enable the reader better to understand and articulate the issues that need to be addressed to achieve a well-adapted multicultural campus.Presidents, academic affairs professionals, student affairs personnel and faculty concerned with equity and diversity will find this book helpful and enlightening.

Higher education institutions across the nation enroll a uniquely diverse student body that possesses different perceptions of the campus environment. It can be expected that African Americans, Asian, Latino/a, and White students have differing perspectives regarding campus climate and culture based on their distinctive background, cultural values, and experiences. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important for colleges to understand and respond to the concerns and needs of an increasingly diverse student body in order to develop appropriate and culturally responsive programs that will ensure their success. This Executive Position Paper examines Delaware Technical Community College minority students’ perceptions of the campus climate and their sense of belonging, as well as their motivation to achieve their academic goals. The study examines best practices and models of inclusive college environments at various higher education institutions. As a result, the research study provides recommendations for creating a campus environment of involvement, respect, and engagement.

"Have three decades of integration and multicultural initiatives in higher education delivered a better education to all students? Are majority and minority students reaping similar benefits, specifically in predominantly white colleges? Do we know what a multicultural campus should look like, and how to design one that is welcoming to all students and promotes a learning environment? Through a unique qualitative study involving seven colleges and universities considered national models of commitment to diversity, this book presents the views and voices of minority students on what has been achieved and what remains to be done. The direct quotations that form the core of this book give voice to Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American and bi-racial students. They offer in their own words their perceptions of their campus cultures and practices, the tensions they encounter and what works for them. Rather than elaborating or recommending specific models or solutions, this book aims to provide insights that will enable the reader better to understand and articulate the issues that need to be addressed to achieve a well-adapted multicultural campus. Presidents, academic affairs professionals, student affairs personnel and faculty concerned with equity and diversity will find this book helpful and enlightening"--amazon.com.

Underrepresented minority students faced challenges while attending predominately White institutions which influenced their persistence. With the increase of diversity across colleges, there was a need for campus leaders to implement culturally responsive practices to address minority student retention and persistence. The purpose of my qualitative case study was to examine underrepresented minority students’ perceptions of culturally responsive holistic support systems and its influence on persistence at a predominately White institution in the Southeast United States. For this study, I emailed questionnaires to underrepresented minority students who identified as Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Multi-racial. I conducted two 20-minute observations of the campus environment to gain an understanding of minority student engagement, the cultural context in which study participants lived, and the relationships among and between groups. After reading and synthesizing 21 responses from study participants during the Spring 2023 academic year, eight themes emerged regarding underrepresented minority students’ perceptions of their campus environment and campus support systems. I found for underrepresented minority students to navigate their campus environment, there was a need to create opportunities for meaningful and authentic relationships which influenced their persistence.

This volume examines race, gender, and identity in African American culture. As with previous volumes in the series, these collected essays provide a social science and interdisciplinary framework for the exploration of Africana cultural and social phenomena. The contributors have adopted mixed methods and meta-theory tools of analysis to describe and evaluate these issues from an African-centered perspective.Kameelah Martin examines the role of women in the films of Julie Dash and Kasi Lemmons. Toya Roberts offers an experimental study of African American males at predominantly white institutions of higher education. Rochelle Brocks digs into the transition, transformation, and transcendence of civil rights to the Black Arts/Black Power movements for social change. Portia K. Maultsby provides an ethnographic study, inspecting the genre of funk music in the United States. James L. Conyers, Jr. analyzes the doctoral dissertation of W. E. B. Du Bois, which cataloged the impact of colonialism on Africana culture. Kesha Morant Williams and Ronald L. Jackson II examine the impact of lupus on the identity of African American women. Ronald Turner's essay examines black workers challenging racist practices by their union representatives. Lisbeth Gant-Britton renders a conceptual history of the hip-hop community, with emphasis on international issues. This volume is an invaluable sourcebook for those studying African American affairs, history, and cultural studies.

Overall, nearly half of all incoming community college students “drop-out” within twelve months of enrolling, with students of color and the economically disadvantaged faring far worse. Given the high proportion of underserved students these colleges enroll, the detrimental impact on their communities, and for the national economy as a whole at a time of diversifying demographics, is enormous.This book addresses this urgent issue by bringing together nationally recognized researchers whose work throws light on the structural and systemic causes of student attrition, as well as college presidents and leaders who have successfully implemented strategies to improve student outcomes.The book is divided into five sections, each devoted to a demographic group: African Americans, Native Americans/American Indians, Latino Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Caucasian students in poverty. Each section in turn comprises three chapters, the first providing an up-to-date summary of research findings about barriers and attainments pertaining to the corresponding population, the second the views of a community college president, and the final chapter offering a range of models and best practices for achieving student success.The analyses--descriptions of cutting edge programs--and recommendations for action will commend this volume to everyone concerned about equity and completion rates in the community college sector, from presidents and senior administrators through faculty and student affairs leaders. For educational researchers, it fills blanks on data about attrition and persistence patterns of minority students attending community colleges.ContributorsKenneth AtwaterGlennda M. BivensEdward BushCara CrowleyMaria Harper-MarinickJoan B. HolmesG. Edward HughesLee LambertCynthia Lindquist, Ta’Sunka Wicahpi Win (Star Horse Woman)Angela LongRussell Lowery-HartJamillah MooreChristopher M. MullinBrian MurphyEduardo J. PadrónDeborah A. SantiagoWei SongRobert TeranishiRowena M. TomanengJames UtterbackJ. Luke Wood

African Americans remain underrepresented in higher education (Thompson, Gorin, & Chen, 2006) and experience subtle forms of racism called microaggressions (Sue et. al, 2007). The impact of microaggressions in post-secondary institutions may manifest in the achievement gaps that exist between African American and White people; moreover, they may influence the inequitable treatment of African American students by staff, teaching assistants and faculty (Ancis, Sedlacek, & Mohr, 2000; Becker & Luther, 2002). 108 African American undergraduate students at three Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) participated. The current study employed an online survey to explore relationships of microaggressions, racial/ethnic socialization, African American racial identity, academic motivation, and mattering of African American students at PWIs, including moderating relationships. Generally, results demonstrated the following significant relationships: experiences of microaggressions were negatively related to a sense of belonging on campus and the belief that instructors were invested in their success; feeling valued on campus was significantly related to experiences of microaggressions; receiving racial stereotype messages about the cynicism of white people was negatively related to the perception that they mattered to instructors; receiving messages of racial protection and cultural insight was positively related to experiences of microaggressions. There were a number of significant relationships between mattering and intrinsic and extrinsic academic motivation. Of particular interest was a negative relationship between amotivation, mattering to instructors, and students perception that they do not belong on campus. Intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation was positively related to microaggresisons. Students' belief that others on campus regarded their culture positively was negatively associated with microaggressions Students' highly held regard for their African descent was positively associated with microaggressions. Moreover, Black Identity Nationalist Ideology significantly moderated the negative relationship between microaggresisons and mattering to instructors. The findings of the current study are an important contribution to the existing literature regarding the experiences of African American college students at PWIs. Recommendations based on the results of the current study are provided for administrators and clinicians who work with African American college students.