Effective Retention Strategies and Policies by Administrative Leaders at Historically Black Colleges and Universities:
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Blackwell-Muhammad, Sonya Corette
Title Proper by Another Author
A Case Study
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Rice, Donna
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Northcentral University
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2020
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
137
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Ed.D.
Body granting the degree
Northcentral University
Text preceding or following the note
2020
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Since their inception over a century ago, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been providing education to individuals who encountered centuries of open discrimination and were disenfranchised because of the nature of the early segregated society in the United States. At one time, over 75% of the Black population graduated from an HBCU to become professional doctors, lawyers, business executives, and educators. HBCUs have been described as a community in crisis in response to the decline in graduation rates. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to address the problem of low student retention rates at HBCUs, to discover the strategies and policies HBCU leaders use to retain students to complete their degree programs, and to explore the effects of retention on other aspects, such as diversity, financial sustainability, and the accreditation of the institution. Leaders of HBCUs have different perspectives and methods of retaining students that make it difficult to isolate one specific theory to assign to these institutions. The Bourdieusian sociological theory incorporates a portion of a variety of theories (i.e., human capital, social capital, agency, critical race, and self-efficacy) and provided the framework of the study. Three leaders from different HBCUs, along with other leaders, identified strategies to improve student retention. They agreed more data-driven results are needed to track institution and student success to assist with accreditation. Leaders need to build a business plan and attend conferences and forums to obtain suggestions to improve retention, increase alumni participation, and work with the community to increase their endowment. It is recommended that leaders at HBCUs provide data about student retention strategies and policies at their institutions, as well as engage in communication with other leaders and interviews with the general public.