College choices among African American students

Abstract

Since the Brown v. Board of education case of 1954, college and university choices for African American students have expanded from just historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to that of predominately white institutions (PWIs). Research indicates that African American students' choice to attend PWI is based on different factors and influences. This study examined why the academic achievement gap and low graduation rates remain an issue for African American students at both HBCUs and PWIs. In addition, this study examined ways in which low graduation rates among African Americans can be improved. Data was gathered utilizing interviews. The objective of the interviews was to gain the faculty, staff, and students' perspective of UW-Whitewater and ways that low graduation and retention rates can be improved. The participants were chosen by an exclusion criterion for the student interviews based on the specific characteristics that all respondents will be African American students. The results did not shed light on the core problem as to why the achievement gap remains an issue half a century later among African American students. However, results did highlight financial matters; diversity; and the lack of African American faculty and staff on campus as an underlying factor.