...African-American College Students: Personal History, Struggles, and Graduation Rheon Gibson Northern Illinois University Abstract In this report, I discuss the importance of African-American college students in higher education realms and why the topic appeals to my interests. I will also identify trends in research questions, methodology, and research findings; regarding three identified themes; Personal History, Struggles, and Graduation. In addition, I will provide the reader with an evaluation/critique of the existing literature, including; 1) contributions of literature to the field, 2) overall strengths, 3) overall weaknesses, 4) missing elements, and 5) what are the next steps for research. African-American College Students: Personal History, Struggles, and Graduation Introduction Importance to the Field Educational attainment amongst African-Americans is a crucial concept that not only affects African-American communities but it also affects society as a whole. Education provides a solid foundation for individuals to experience personal growth, increase one’s socioeconomic status, and obtain professional careers and licensures. Obtaining higher education does not begin upon admission to an accredited college or university; instead, it begins when one is first introduced to the educational system. This introduction can be in Kindergarten, Pre-K, the first year of home school, or wherever the first fundamental steps of acquiring a higher knowledge of comprehension...
Words: 2986 - Pages: 12
...IV. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Fund Local and National Programs and Research Black and Hispanic males face opportunity gaps in addition to academic achievement gaps. These gaps shows how environmental factors influence the likelihood that students will graduate and graduate college ready. Black and Latino boys are overrepresented in special education classes, those who have been suspended and expelled. They also have less access to academically rigorous curriculum. All of these factors help explain the lagging graduation and college readiness rates among New York City’s students of color. Provide more funding and support for programs already in place to target schools with high concentrations of black and Hispanic males. Young Men's Initiative (YMI)...
Words: 1225 - Pages: 5
...mdrc Building Knowledge To improve Social policy Sustained positive effects on graduation rates PolICY BRIEF produced by new york city’s Small public High Schools of choice January 2012 D By Howard S. Bloom and Rebecca Unterman uring the past decade, New York City undertook a districtwide high school reform that is perhaps unprecedented in its scope, scale, and pace. Between fall 2002 and fall 2008, the school district closed 23 large failing high schools (with graduation rates below 45 percent),1 opened 216 new small high schools (with different missions, structures, and student selection criteria), and implemented a centralized high school admissions process that assigns over 90 percent of the roughly 80,000 incoming ninth-graders each year based on their school preferences. At the heart of this reform are 123 small, academically nonselective, public high schools. Each with approximately 100 students per grade in grades 9 through 12, these schools were created to serve some of the district’s most disadvantaged students and are located mainly in neighborhoods where large failing high schools had been closed.2 Hence, they provide a realistic choice for students with widely varying academic backgrounds. MDRC researchers call them “small schools of choice” (SSCs) because of their small size and the fact that they do not screen students based on their academic backgrounds.3 In June 2010, MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research...
Words: 2729 - Pages: 11
...including education. The ARRA lays the foundation for education reform by supporting investments in innovative strategies that are most likely to lead to improved results for students, long-term gains in school and school system capacity, and increased productivity and effectiveness. The ARRA provides $4.35 billion for the Race to the Top Fund, a competitive grant program designed to encourage and reward States that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform; achieving significant improvement in student outcomes, including making substantial gains in student achievement, closing achievement gaps, improving high school graduation rates, and ensuring student preparation for success in college and careers; and implementing ambitious plans in four core education reform areas: • Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy; • Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction; • Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and • Turning around our lowest-achieving schools. Race to the Top will reward States that have demonstrated success in raising student achievement and have the best plans to accelerate their reforms in the future. These States will offer models for...
Words: 520 - Pages: 3
...Examining the Needs of First-Generation College Students Hank R. Austin Arkansas Tech University Examining the Needs of First-Generation College Students Choosing first-generation college students as my sub-population to focus on was an easy decision. I was a first-generation college student. My father never attended high school and my mother never attended school beyond graduation from high school. Considering some of my own personal struggles and experiences, my research, introduced here, will serve to assist me further in reaching out to those students with similar backgrounds. First-generation students are defined as students whose parents have not completed a bachelor’s or an associate degree (Glenn, 2008). Roughly 30% of entering freshmen in the USA are first-generation college students, and 24% (4.5 million) are both first-gens and low income. Nationally, 89% of low-income first-gens leave college within six years without a degree. More than a quarter leave after their first year; four times the dropout rate of higher-income second-generation students (Ramsey & Peale, 2010). Much research has been conducted in the last decade on the issues facing first-generation students. I found that the major issues which have prompted this research are retention and graduation rates. Among students who enrolled in four-year colleges, for example, the first-generation students had a graduation rate of 44.9%, while the rate for non-first-generation students was 59%. Among...
Words: 2492 - Pages: 10
...Faculty Use Only ------------------------------------------------- <Faculty comments here> ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- <Faculty Name> <Grade Earned> <Writing Score> <Date Graded> Assignment 2 Sharing Sources College readiness is a perennial issue, and one that will garner much attention. For several decades, researchers have documented the gap between high school and college expectations, noting that even students who complete a college preparatory curriculum in high school are often poorly prepared for college. This lack of alignment contributes to high postsecondary remediation rates and hinders college completion. Over the years, state policymakers and education leaders have responded with a variety of wide-ranging and costly efforts, including the development of state-level content standards and assessments. However, these standards vary widely among states and generally lack sufficient rigor to assure readiness for credit bearing courses in college. It is encouraging that states have adopted the English Language Arts and Mathematics standards released in mid-2010. The hard work lies ahead, however, as states move from adoption of standards to their full implementation, including development of curriculum and assessments. I will evaluate 10 sources that will help define the important strategies and foster success...
Words: 2862 - Pages: 12
...“Why College Education is important to me” Introduction I have witnessed numerous friends and family members give up to their “dream jobs “, due to them lacking a college education. For Many years, I too applied to many jobs which rejected me because I did not possess the college courses they required. Obtaining an Associate’s degree will not only open doors to my prospecting job opportunities but will also enhance my personal development and allow me to reach my goals. While there are a high level of job opportunities with high salaries, to obtain a job in government and private companies is competitive due to education requirements. The workforce is changing quickly, and the requirements are too. Entry level jobs now require that an individual have a minimum of a Bachelor. With struggles of inflation and lack of well paying jobs for the young graduates, affording an education is almost impossible. College View magazine was quoted stating,” The global economy is becoming increasingly more competitive, and in order to give yourself the best change for a well paying job, you must understand the importance of a college education”. The only way to obtain a job that will provide finance stability is by returning ti school and completing an AA degree. Personal development is very important to me because is a lifelong process. Completing a post secondary education provides me with a sense of accomplishment and heightens myself esteem. Working towards my AA degree ( or college...
Words: 984 - Pages: 4
...Sacramento. This position at the university particularly focuses on ten different goals under the Student Academic Success & Education Equity Programs, two of which are closely tied in with goals that I have set in learning as part of my long term goals while in Higher Education. My goals focus on student transition, retention, and lastly graduation. While on track to completing a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration - or something with a similar focus, I must first complete my Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies with a focus in Higher Education Leadership as offered by the university. While I plan on focusing on obtaining my degree, I also plan on understanding the different services students require by obtaining several certifications available for student affairs...
Words: 522 - Pages: 3
...Why We Quit By Yvonne Raley •In the U.S., more students drop out of college than graduate--yet six out of every 10 jobs require a postsecondary education. What causes so many students to squander their future? In her 20s, Diana dreamed of becoming a scientific illustrator. She had not yet attended college, so she was thrilled when she received an acceptance letter from an undergraduate graphic arts program in New York City. But her excitement gave way to anxiety during the first days and weeks at her new school. Fretting about her performance, Diana sought out her professors for comfort and advice. She found them aloof and difficult to contact, however, because none of them posted office hours. When Diana reached out to the chair of the art department, he either was unavailable or expressed little interest in her concerns. Diana's academic fears were unfounded--her first semester grades turned out to be quite good. But lacking contact and support from her teachers, Diana felt lonely, dejected and lost in the crowd. She was so disillusioned, in fact, that she abruptly dropped out of college--and never went back. Now 38, Diana teaches English as a Second Language part-time for an international language school. Her pay is $10 per hour, and she has no opportunity for advancement. Stories like Diana's play out all over the country. Graduation rates at public four-year colleges and universities hover at around 40 percent of entering students. Their private...
Words: 2090 - Pages: 9
...Countries opinions on how their education systems should operate vary around the world, and often they can contradict one another. Nations have often debated whether or not students should be paid to attend school. Rick Noack author of Why Danish students are paid to go to college, and Nikhil Swaminathan author of Should We Pay Kids to Go to School? argue that students should be financed to attend school. Students should be paid to go to school because it teaches students to become responsible adults, student’s academic performance increases, and attendance in schools increases. Students should be paid to attend school because this payment encourages students to behave as responsible adults. Paying students allows them to learn how to save and spend money carefully. One could argue that the youth of today are not old enough to responsibly manage money and would spend it recklessly. However, Denmark’s students are paid to go to school, and student Astrid Winter Fischer refutes “Some Danish think that we spend money we receive in bars or clubs, but most students understand what is at...
Words: 648 - Pages: 3
...“The influence of Academic education on crime rate within South Asia” Abstract This paper illustrates effects of academic education on the crime ratio prevailing in the country. We present realistic influences between crime and education in South Asian countries and specifically in Pakistan, using various data sources. A solid conclusion is that criminal activity is negatively related with higher levels of education in Pakistan. Therefore, we categorize the outcome of education on influence in criminal activity using fluctuations in required school leaving age laws over time to understanding for the endogeneity of education. In this fundamental approach, for property crimes, the negative crime-education relationship remains strong and significant. The consequences of these findings are explicit and perfect. They indicate that refining education can yield major...
Words: 2092 - Pages: 9
...The main reason they say this is because of the cost. In fact, in over 30 states cuts have been made to the music programs there, (“Music Makes a Difference.” Improving Lives Through Music, 2017). It is estimated that in schools to have music it takes $176 per student per year to have the classes. And $176 times the number of students taking music across the USA the numbers add up fast and it can get pricey. But there is one problem with this, the USA on average spends 809.6 Billion dollars in education annually. (U.S. Education Spending and Student Performance vs. The World Infographic | MAT@USC | USC Rossier Online.” USC, 9 Feb. 2011,). But somehow in that 809 Billion dollars, there is not enough for music. There is not enough for a class that helps students succeed and increase test scores in a country that has decreasing math and reading scores. Somehow it keeps getting eaten up by other things...
Words: 950 - Pages: 4
...Community colleges also help students find what they want to do in life. According to the Penn State Division of Undergraduate studies 20 to 50 percent of students enter college as an “undecided” major. Also, 75 percent of students change their major at least once before their expected graduation date. In a College Student Journal survey, 800 students were asked to talk about their future career interest, and other factors that lead into deciding a major. This study found that students were choosing their major based upon assumptions and not knowing their own personal future goals. These students were mostly looking at their future salaries and not their personal wants and desires. Community colleges are an exceptional way to find one’s career path for a much less cost than attending a four-year college....
Words: 1158 - Pages: 5
...student in Atlanta, Georgia, had worked hard her entire academic career to celebrate what would be her proudest moment in high school: commencement. She wanted to walk across the stage to the flash of cameras and the smiles of her family just like her classmates, and then journey off to a college in South Carolina where she had already been accepted. So she gathered her proud family members from Chicago and Washington, D.C., to come to share in her joy. Brittany watched as her classmates put on their caps and gowns and walked across the stage to receive their diplomas. But she did not, and instead waited all during the day to get a last-minute waiver signed. She continued to wait through the night, but it never came. She began to realize that if she graduated, it would not be quick or easy. Her problem was that she had not passed one of four subject areas in the state’s graduation test, which students must pass to earn a regular diploma. She is not alone. Thousands of students, such as Brittany, every year do not make it across the stage at graduation due to failing these state tests. And many of them, such as Brittany, were honors students who had fulfilled all the other requirements of graduation except this one (Torres, 2010). Stories such as this one are far too common and should not happen. We have the power to change the status quo, so that no student should have to follow the same path as Brittany. This problem can be solved, though like Brittany’s case, it will be neither...
Words: 2702 - Pages: 11
...born in but don't know nothing about it. Dreamers must be given the opportunity to receive a green card due to the great impacts it will cause to the country; such as, benefiting society, improving graduation rates, and minimizing fear of...
Words: 1260 - Pages: 6
