| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to identify whether the programs dedicated to the recruitment and retention of minorities in the public two-year colleges of Texas had been effective. The study was conducted using a questionnaire submitted to the institutions and other data available to the public. The population of this study was the total public colleges and campuses in the state. Eighty-two percent of the addressees returned the questionnaire in usable form. Analysis of the data was via descriptive statistics. 1. Forty-three percent of the respondents have dedicated programs for recruiting and retention of minorities. 2. Forty-nine percent of the respondents experienced limited success in the recruitment of African Americans. Fifty-one percent of the respondents were successful in the recruiting Hispanics. Retention success was 38.5% for African Americans and 37.3% and 36.4% for Hispanic for the fall semester and spring semester respectively. 3. The survey revealed that five strategies for recruiting and retention (four were common to both) contributed moderate plus high effect in 66% or more of the cases. The common strategies were counseling services, academic advisement, availability of learning skill laboratories, and top level administrator support. Recruiting met the 66% standard in articulation with secondary schools and retention did the same with peer tutoring. 4. The strategies found in successful programs were also found in less successful programs but to a lesser degree. The successful programs attempted to use more of the strategies listed in the survey than did the non-successful programs. 5. The attitude of faculty and staff as revealed in their concern for students was a primary factor in their success. The people responsible for the recruiting and retention programs were highly motivated to succeed and indicated they had community as well as organizational support. The public two-year colleges of Texas had limited success with their programs for recruiting and retention of minorities. Adequate resources have not been invested by the majority of the institutions and the efforts of all institutions must be expanded if the spirit and intent of the goals and objectives of the Texas Plan are to be realized. |
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