Increasing Black Male Graduation Rates

[Professor]

Sewell is a active Brother in the Frat - See below.

Increasing Black Male Graduation Rates
University of West Georgia's learning community for African American men draws praise, criticism
By Tamara E. Holmes

Will African American males be more likely to graduate from college if they are given a separate-and more nurturing-environment than other students? That's the question a new learning community at the University of West Georgia hopes to answer.

Starting this fall, 25 black males will take core freshman classes, live in the same integrated dorm, and meet frequently to study and take part in other educational activities together for one year. The program, led by Said Sewell, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the university's department of political science and director of the Center for African American Male Research, Success, and Leadership, is designed to give black males extra encouragement to succeed in higher education and in life.

All of the university's black freshmen males were invited to apply for the program. According to Sewell, the 25 students that were chosen were not at the top or the bottom of the academic scale, but rather in the middle because “these are the persons who are critically on that fence, because they could go either way,� he says.

A great deal of attention has been given to the disparities between African Americans and whites in higher education. According to the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, the nationwide graduation rate of black students is 40%, compared to 61% for white students.

Beheruz N. Sethna, Ph.D., professor and president of the University of West Georgia, says the learning community reflects the school's sense of responsibility to increase the percentage of black college graduates. “The economic and noneconomic benefits [of graduating from college] are so significant,� Sethna says. “Unfortunately statistics show that black males graduate in lower proportions. If they do not graduate from college, they may be deprived of their legitimate share of these wonderful economic and other benefits.�

The university's efforts stem partly from a task force conducted three years ago by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. The task force was charged with understanding enrollment, retention, and graduation patterns of black males in the University System of Georgia, and developing recommendations for improvement.

UWG has made efforts to support black male students in the past. Four years ago a program called Black Men With Initiative was launched� Also led by Sewell, the BMWI program provides males with a supportive environment that offers opportunities to network and take part in enrichment activities. Participants in the BMWI program will serve as mentors to the students in the learning community, says Terrence Lewis, 20, a senior and president of BMWI. The learning community and the BMWI program both fall under the domain of the university's Center for African American Male Research, Success, and Leadership, designed to address the education disparities.

“Coming to a predominantly white campus, I think it would be easy to get lost along the way,� says Milton Williams, an 18-year-old freshman in the program. “This is an opportunity to meet positive black men on campus. It's helpful to have that help and support system.�

While many interested observers are hopeful that the program will create positive results, some have reservations, particularly because the University of West Georgia is a predominantly white school.

“Even though it may be a sincere effort on the part of the administration to improve academic performance on the part of young African American males, the downside is it may reinforce stereotypes that black males, when put in the general body of students, can't learn,� says Earl Ofari Hutchinson, political analyst and author of The Assassination of the Black Male Image.

However, Sethna believes the potential benefits of the program far outweigh any criticisms. “The data shows that these benefits accrue not just to college graduate; but to their children as well. Hence, there is a generational effect.â

[RACooper]

Interesting post Professor.

Sounds like a good plan... but while it's all good to present positive role-models and offer mutual support, that only addresses or mitigates some of the pressures from the scholastic side. To truely have an impact some effort must be made to address the non-scholastic pressures: social, economic, cultural, and others from the greater society - it is here that Alpha Phi Alpha can play an invaluable role.

As for the comments at the end of the article by Earl Ofari Hutchinson the supposed "stereotype" would only be reinforced if this program acts to exclude participants from the university community - instead of how I see it: acting as a student support group (much like the formal programs for international students... or the informal ones like study groups).

[Professor]

I think we finally agree. . .

Originally posted by RACooper
Interesting post Professor.

Sounds like a good plan... but while it's all good to present positive role-models and offer mutual support, that only addresses or mitigates some of the pressures from the scholastic side. To truely have an impact some effort must be made to address the non-scholastic pressures: social, economic, cultural, and others from the greater society - it is here that Alpha Phi Alpha can play an invaluable role.

As for the comments at the end of the article by Earl Ofari Hutchinson the supposed "stereotype" would only be reinforced if this program acts to exclude participants from the university community - instead of how I see it: acting as a student support group (much like the formal programs for international students... or the informal ones like study groups).

[Narmer]

At the University of Memphis one year ago an organization was founded to increase the retention and graduation rate of black males on the campus, that organization is Empowered Men of Color. The organization was founded by an Alpha and a gentleman who is not greek at all and just happens to be my cousin. This organization has made great improvements in it's short life span in just getting the minority males involved on campus. From my own experience being involved and meeting people, especially people just like us, enriches our college experience. I think more campuses should institute programs like the one Brother Sewell did....

[Sistermadly]

I love the idea of a program like BWMI, but I honestly think it needs to start earlier, say at around the age of 13.

[ARTIC-U-LATE]

This reminds me of a program entitled, "Brother2Brother" at many of the PWIs. In it, the members met weekly or bi-weekly to discuss issues and triumphs of Black men on campus. We received money from the Black Student Union executive board and scheduled cultural activities like visits to museums or movies as a cohort. It was good to be in the company of positive brothers. The females had a similar group also.

One program that stood out was the Wednesday "Black Knot." It in, each Black man would wear a shirt and tie. We received numerous compliments and winks from the ladies and administration on our concentrated effort to present ourselves in a positive lights. Even more, all of the fraternity men participated too. It would have to be one of my more positive undergraduate experiences.

[mccoyred]

Given the overall retention rate of Blacks at PWIs, programs like this are critical. There are fewer Black males than Black females in college anyway, so when they drop out, it is more noticible.