The Black and Hispanic undergraduate experience at a major state institution in the Southwest : a five-year assessment

Abstract

Exploratory in nature, this two-stage institutional case study was conducted in response to the declining participation of Blacks and Hispanics in higher education, particularly at predominantly White colleges and universities (PWCUs). The retention/attrition literature, suggest Black and Hispanic problematic student-institution interactions, questionable academic and social integration, and a uniquely tenuous "fit" at PWCUs. The researcher's intent was to test the validity of the interaction theoretical framework by documenting the experience of Black and Hispanic undergraduates for a five-year period at one large, predominantly White institution in the Southwest. In Stage I, (1) four successive (1982-85) cohorts (2,278) of Black, Hispanic, and White first-time full time undergraduates were identified in order to ascertain in enrollment, persistence and degree attainment rates and trends and (2) cohorts were divided by persistence status, race/ethnicity and gender to permit development of persisting and nonpersisting student profiles using selected demographic, academic and involvement characteristics. In Stage II, a sample of persisting and nonpersisting Black and Hispanic students were surveyed by telephone using a researcher constructed Environmental Evaluation. The study documented clear racial/ethnic differences in enrollment, persistence and degree attainment..