| Abstract: | The purpose of this dissertation study was to identify and examine aspects of the academic, social, and cultural environments on a predominantly white university campus which impact the collegiate experiences of black students. Areas of examination include, student and institutional characteristics, perceptions of racism within the university environment, student retention behavior, and support programs designed to facilitate matriculation. The naturalistic method of inquiry was utilized to gather and analyze information for this study. The naturalistic method was selected because the research design required the utilization of a paradigm which facilitates an holistic approach and analysis of data. This methodology also lends itself to the presentation of multiple realities and interdependent factors which are functioning simultaneously. Black students enroll at Texas A&M University for a multitude of individual and institutional reasons. Their experiences are a function of individual determination, external and internal support structures, academic and social interests. The university's black student graduation rate is abysmally deficient in comparison to its high freshman to sophomore retention rate. Successful black students have strong parental/family support systems, possess intense personal commitments to succeed, have the psychological strength to resist racism and its insidious ability to make them feel "less," find themselves a niche within the co-curriculum, and arrive on campus with a strong sense of personal self-worth. The university has traditions and policies which students, faculty and administrators interpret as racist or racially motivated. Efforts to eliminate racist elements have been narrow in scope and minimally effective. The future presence of black students, faculty and administrators on this campus is without question. Questions exist regarding the nature of their experiences. For example, will they have the ability to adapt and assimilate without creating disharmony, Will there be a noticeable absence of perceived racism within practices, colleges, and individuals? Currently, questions to be answered involve the inevitable changes within the campus climate as the full impact of the contributions of black students to the academic, culture, and social environments becomes apparent. |
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