Central Piedmont Community College

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS for African American Male

Students

The Students’ Perspective

December, 2010

Central Piedmont Community College

Overview of Student Focus Groups

Facilitator training provided by ATD Data Facilitator, Dr. Ken Gonzalez, and Eva Mejia

November 15-16, 2010 African American males in their 1st semester

N = 44 students (avg. of 9 per focus group)

Trained facilitators: Meg Austin, Marcia Colson, Percell Hobbs, Pat McDaniel and Tracy Moore

The Challenges

Legend: Blue Boxes = 4 out of 5 Focus Group Responses Orange Boxes = 3 out of 5 Focus Group Responses

Transitioning to College (not being prepared, workload, returning to school after an extended period, lack of knowledge re: available resources, setback of placement test/developmental course requirements, basic

computer knowledge/skills, adapting to a new environment)

Put pressure on HS Counselors

Put pressure on self/pay attention

Take refresher courses

Utilize family resources

Stay abreast of current issues

Go to school right away

Study Set Goals Read anything

and everything Ask librarians

for help

Communicate with HS Counselors

Provide more orientation/make orientation mandatory

Offer more prep course

Provide an automatic handout to every new student

Put the responsibility back on the students

Remove the Placement Test

What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students

Provide more innovative courses

Cato Middle College

Summer Bridge Program

TRIO Courses Short term

programs Prep course

for Placement Test

CPCC Website ACA Classes

What Instructors Can Do

What Currently Works

Transitioning to College Cont’d

Utilize the counselors

Study for the Placement Test

Find/take free basic computer courses

Be respectful of security

Don’t get caught up with the crowd/hype

Stay to yourself

Offer free basic computer skills courses

Make basic computer skills courses required in HS

Make basic computer skills courses a pre-requisite

Post class notices about security





Time Management (balancing work, family and school, finding time to study, meeting the schoolwork demands,

getting the work completed on time, getting to class on time, staying focused)

Prioritize Plan ahead Adjust schedule Gauge what

classes are harder

Study/ set a study time schedule

Get to classes early

Prepare for stress

Know your limits/ don’t take on too much at one time

Tell teacher what’s going on

Find a study partner/group

Require a mandatory study hall

Provide access for students to take a computer home

Don’t allow students to take too many classes their first semester

Offer daycare Offer more jobs

on campus Leave labs open

longer with more lab techs

Offer reminders



Make time in classes for questions and homework

Allow students to be 5-10 minutes late

Extend class times

Explain rules about going to class and consequences on being late/missing class

You can make your own schedule

Schedule of classes

Night sessions, short sessions, online sessions

Emails Some teachers

understanding if student is late

Mentoring program

Family Resource Center



Time Management Cont’d

Always check your email

Got to bed early/ get up for class on time

Don’t plan anything extra

Sacrifice spending time with friends

Set a “go to class” alarm” on your phone

Write various schedules down to see how they all fit together

Discipline yourself

Offer time management courses

Don’t offer classes before 10:00 am





Peer Pressures(hanging out with friends not going to school/ being ridiculed, hanging out with friends instead of going to class, challenges with women – more variety/options, doing drugs,)

Make the right choices

Associate with friends interested in going to class

Pray Be in control of

your own destiny Change friends Be encouraging

to other students

Stay focused Have a mind of

your own/know what’s important

Cut away bad influences/feel comfortable leaving old friends

Create activities

Offer counseling

Offer more academic incentives (i.e. scholarships)

Offer mentoring programs

Create opportunities to make friends with same goals



N/A Security Easy

registration Teachers



Stereotypes/Cultural Differences(instructors understanding perspective of AA Male, perceptions about appearance, hairstyles and dress, lack of awareness of Black Student Association and links to AA Fraternities for transfer students, trust between AA Males and other races, challenges with discrimination,

being misidentified as an AA Male)

Stay open minded Recognize that

everyone can’t teach

Don’t take everything personally

Go to internet and find out more information about Black student groups and fraternities

Attend meetings Tell associations

to advertise Open your mind

and read more Prove stereotypes

wrong and make A’s

Educate instructors

Advertise info. about Black student groups

Offer forums Enforce zero

tolerance Enforce a dress

code Come out of your

offices and address students directly

Let students know they are not being stereotyped

Have “harmony” cookouts



N/A 3MP Security and

staff advising about proper dress code

CPCC is a diverse place to be



Stereotypes/Cultural Differences Cont’d

Be humble Have self respect Don’t wear clothes

too large/pull up your pants/dress for success

Don’t let the words of others bother you

Live and let live/ be yourself/don’t act fake

Know your environment and act appropriately

Address the situation immediately

Get involved/join organizations





Studying(too much schoolwork, lack of effort, how to study and take notes, recalling previously

learned information, coming prepared for class)

Get over it; this is college

Stop procrastinating

Take ACA courses Be an auditory

note-taker Bring a tape

recorder Find a study

partner/seek help Don’t overload

yourself Manage your time Find tutors Match up with an

“A” student Study/do homework

Require mandatory study halls

Provide better tutors

Having something in place to support students waiting on financial aid

Offer services to sponsor materials and scholarships



Give criteria for assignments upfront

Encourage more study groups

Use more visual learning in the classroom

Talk to students – find out about their challenges

Minimize workload

Tutors ACA classes Academic

Learning Center

Caring teachers

Financial aid allows students to get books and materials for class



Studying Cont’d

Know your priorities

Stay focused in class/come prepared to learn

Be respectful of your teachers

Sit in front of the class

Sit away from your peers

Complete homework daily

Sign up for classes you can focus on

Have the right mindset

Have the right class materials





Registering for Classes(class accessibility/classes filling up, understanding curriculum pre-requisites,

registration, not getting into classes you need, finding out who your advisor /academic counselor is, understanding short sessions)

Know registration dates

Know payment dates

Register on time Get involved on

campus Register by the

end of the current school year

Study for the placement test

Seek out your academic advisor

Ask questions Speak with

someone in person Bring necessary

paperwork

Offer more class options

Make the website easier

Provide students with a printout showing what classes/sequence is needed once they select a major

Simplify registration

Recruit students earlier in HS

Publish registration steps for people that have been out of school in a while



N/A Available information

Early registration



Self Esteem(the environment and changing lifestyle, fear of failing, lack of motivation, don’t feel like you are putting your best foot forward, finding yourself, too much pride to ask questions)

Adapt to the environment/don’t bring the “hood” with you

Try Find support Add humor Stay motivated Hang out with

confident people

Be grateful Believe in

yourself Ask for help Grow up

Offer more counseling

Develop a merit system

Offer course on self-esteem

Offer group talks



Offer reassurance

Encourage students to ask questions

Offer rewards Give grades for

participation

Male mentoring Study groups Field trips Counseling



Academic Advising(challenges with navigating the system, knowing how to get the ball rolling, transcript

evaluation process, lack of counseling, lack of support from faculty advisors)

Seek out an advisor

Read/do your research

Ask questions Follow the steps Transcript

evaluations: do it ahead of time, fight for classes you already have, do your own research

Get name and number of counselor

Take initiative/reach out for help/be persistent

Don’t rely on 1 counselor

Make sure right department evaluates your transcript

Fire certain counselors/hold them accountable



N/A Advisors



Academic Advising(challenges with navigating the system, knowing how to get the ball rolling, transcript

evaluation process, lack of counseling, lack of support from faculty advisors, deciding what major to go into, lack of course advisement)

Have a back up plan

Keep your mind open to other options/ don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Be true to yourself/decide what you want to do

Know how long you want to stay in school

Do your own research

Find someone you can confide in

Make sure right department evaluates your transcript

Fire certain counselors/hire more qualified advisors

Provide more information about majors

Provide tests re: skills and personalities

Make advising mandatory

Train and hold advisors accountable





Finances(personal issues – paying for food and living expenses, college expenses – paying for tuition, books and transportation, unemployment/loss of benefits. bankruptcy, having to leave classes

to go to work, lack of employment due to criminal record, homelessness, F.A. paperwork process, time it takes to receive F.A. refund checks)

Prepare a budget Manage your

finances/spend wisely

Shop for low rate school loans

Plan ahead/do your research

Look for work study

Stay motivated Start with less

classes Find a job

willing to work around your class schedule

Eat breakfast at home and pack a lunch

Offer budget and financial management classes

Provide better job leads

Release F.A. funds earlier

Offer stipends Give everyone

F.A. Offer lunch cards Change the F.A.

refund process (send refunds sooner)

Provide work study

Allow Higher One card to pay for food



N/A Availability of F.A.

Tuition payment plan

This Focus Group

Internet application (F.A.?)



Finances Cont’d

Try and save money

Look for scholarships

Look for grants Look for F.A. Get counseling Try to expunge

criminal record Speak with

elected politicians

Persevere Attend

job/career fairs Ask for help on

filling out F.A. forms

Decrease paperwork for F.A.

Meet with students earlier

Involve parents

Hold staff accountable





Communication with Teachers(two-way communication between teachers and students, communication regarding attendance

policies, teachers coming late to class, teachers being unprepared for class, teachers sending emails late for class assignments, not being told about resources and academic options (i.e.

short sessions)

Be friendly Ask questions Respect others Be aware of

attendance policies

Be patient Study in class

until the teacher arrives

Use email Stay on teachers Meet with

teachers Seek out an

academic advisor Seek out more

than one academic advisor

Hold teachers accountable

Add staff Make it

mandatory that all employees tell all students everything that’s available to them via pamphlets



Insert Instructor-related Changes Here

CPCC email Tutoring Counselors



Moving from Data to Strategies

Next Steps:

Action Grid: Moving From Data to Strategies

Common Challenges identified by African American males in

their first semester

Groups that Need

to DISCUSS the

Common Challenge

Groups EMPOWERED to address the Common Challenge

How will the Common Challenges be Addressed?

Implementation Timeline

Evaluation Plan

Teaching Change/

Enhancement

Policy Change

Student Support Change/

Enhancement

1. Transitioning to College

- Identify groups and date for data presentation/discussion.

- Identify the groups that will have the authority & responsibility to address the common challenges.

2. Time Mgt.

3. Peer Pressure

4. Stereotypes/ Cultural Differences




Groups that Need

to DISCUSS the

Common Challenge




Evaluation Plan

Teaching Change/

Enhancement

Policy Change


Enhancement

5. Studying - Identify groups and date for data presentation/discussion.


6. Registering for Classes

7. Self Esteem

8. Academic Advising




Groups that Need

to DISCUSS the

Common Challenge




Evaluation Plan

Teaching Change/

Enhancement

Policy Change


Enhancement

9. Finances - Identify groups and date for data presentation/discussion.


10. Communication with Teachers

Thank you for your time!

Questions or comments?

Documents

Central Piedmont Community College