Community colleges serve as the primary educational pathway for Black American males. Despite years of high enrollment by Black American males in community college, their persistence rates in community college continue to decline. The continued persistence decline has concerned community college leaders. Community colleges have attempted to…

This dissertation shines a light on the indomitable spirit of African American male students, who exhibit remarkable resilience despite facing persistent challenges such as underrepresentation, academic underachievement, and racial and socioeconomic disparities. It delves into the critical role of programs and services in promoting academic…

This transcendental phenomenological study examined the factors that led to the successes of Latino males' persistence in obtaining their bachelor's degree. Through the lens of participants' lived experiences, first-generation Latino males unpack their experiences and describe how those experiences impacted their academic achievement to graduate…

African American males represent one of the smallest demographics reflected within the student population in higher education within the United States. Colleges and universities continue to face the challenge of articulating their value as they seek to recruit, retain, and support students. However, African American male undergraduate students…

This phenomenological study addressed the factors of an institutionalized peer to peer mentoring program that fostered academic success and persistence among Black male students graduating from a predominantly White four-year public university in Tennessee through the lens of the critical race theory. Data was gathered through face-to-face,…

This phenomenological study addressed the factors of an institutionalized peer to peer mentoring program that fostered academic success and persistence among Black male students graduating from a predominantly White four-year public university in Tennessee through the lens of the critical race theory. Data was gathered through face-to-face,…

Exploring the lived experiences of academically gifted African American men at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) can lead to a better understanding of the institutional barriers this student population endures, the successes related to their journey, the factors that aid in their retention and persistence, and how institutions…

Despite years' worth of focus on improving the success and retention of Black men in community colleges across the nation, an opportunity gap still exists between success and retention rates for Black men and their White counterparts. Much of the research conducted on Black men and their success and retention has been framed from a deficit model,…

This study relies on in-depth interviews with 23 Black men to explore their experiences in Black Male Scholars (BMS), an institutional Black Male Initiative program. We examine how participating in BMS enhanced students' self-authoring and persistence. Findings reveal that engaging in BMS helped move men from feelings of isolation and alienation…

Extant research has extensively illuminated African American men's experiences with racism at historically White institutions. Their efforts to persist and graduate meant many of them learned to navigate and respond to racism on and off campus. Such learned behavior has necessitated adopting coping mechanisms to acculturate to the social,…

The qualitative case study explored the factors that foster an atmosphere of belonging for men of color (MOC) attending a 2-year Predominantly White Institution. The pressing issue is that PWI colleges make the erroneous assumption that an extension or invitation of welcome is the same as fostering a sense of belonging for men of color (MOC). This…

A qualitative case study approach was used to examine Latino male students and First-Year Experience (FYE) programs aimed at promoting student transfer. Two FYE programs at two community colleges in California were studied: Bridgetown Community College and Portlake Community College (pseudonyms). Study participants included four groups: Latino…

While the national discourse about the call for increased effort to help strengthen retention and graduation rates among minority college students seems to be losing its vigor, concerned citizens continue to find other means to sustain the momentum. Similarly, the office for institutional diversity at a public southeastern university established a…

Continued research on the first-year experience of African American male students entering institutions of higher learning is necessary and can provide a deeper look at institutional and individual factors that African American male students may encounter, and impact their academic success. Understanding the issues that affect African American…

The purpose of this study is to explore factors that may contribute to the persistence and graduation rates of African American and Hispanic undergraduate males enrolled at regional fouryear public universities in Texas. African American and Hispanic males have lower graduation rates in both secondary and post-secondary education than their White…