Overcoming barriers: characteristics of Black male freshmen between 1971 and 2004

Abstract

Our analyses and conclusions are based on both research literature on college access for African American males and the survey responses of 214,951 full-time, first-time African American male freshmen between 1971 and 2004. First, we reviewed literature on the experiences of African American male high-school students and the common barriers facing their matriculation to college. We organized findings from the research into broad themes emerging from the literature, guided by Swail, Cabrera, Lee, and Williams's Integrated Model for Student Success (2005). Based on this framework, college access and academic achievement are not based on a single factor or one dimension; rather, they are constructed through a complex interaction of multiple dimensions. Swail and colleagues delineate these factors into three categories: cognitive, social, and institutional/systemic. Cognitive factors take place largely inside the student and relate to the skills, abilities, and knowledge students have which prepare them for higher education, including academic preparation, post-secondary planning, and college knowledge (Swail, Redd, & Perna, 2003; Swail et al., 2005). Social factors exist largely outside the student, and capture the ways in which those who have relationships with students can influence their access to post-secondary education. The social dimension includes a student's cultural history, family influence, financial issues and socioeconomic status, and ability to interact with peers (Swail, 2003; Swail et al., 2005). Finally the institutional/systemic dimension captures the ability of institutions to influence and shape student efforts to reach their college goals. High-school resources and support, outreach programs, and opportunities for financial aid could all be considered within this dimension of the framework (Swail, 2003; Swail et al., 2005).

Citation

Griffin, K.A., Jayakumar, U.M., Jones, M.M. and Allen, W.R. (2009), "Overcoming barriers: characteristics of Black male freshmen between 1971 and 2004", Frierson, H.T., Pearson, W. and Wyche, J.H. (Ed.) Black American Males in Higher Education: Diminishing Proportions (Diversity in Higher Education, Vol. 6), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 155-179. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-3644(2009)0000006013