*A retraction is forthcoming to correct this to DTCC
By Gregory Childress : The Herald-Sun
Oct 19, 2008
DURHAM -- Persistence is a word that is used often on the campus of Durham Technical Community College.
In fact, it's something the college measures in its degree-seeking students, many of whom face financial, familial and other challenges that can get in the way of achieving academic goals.
Such barriers are particularly tough to overcome for black males, many of whom arrive on campus unprepared for the rigors of college, and very often, without the skills needed to successfully navigate an academic environment.
The college's "persistence rate," which is measured by the number of students who enroll in a fall semester then re-enroll the following spring, was 65 percent from 2007 to spring 2008. For black males, the rate was 61 percent overall, but 71 percent for students in the college's Visions mentoring and leadership program for minority males.
The number for Vision students was a source of pride for Demetrius Thompson, a student activity and mentoring specialist who runs the college's Visions program.
"We're persisting a lot better, but our GPA's aren't reflecting that," said Thompson, referring to Vision participants' 2.08 average GPA in the spring semester, which fell below African-American males' overall 2.18 and the college's 2.69.
Data also showed African-American males trailing other students in passing rates for courses in which they enrolled. In the 2008 spring semester, for example, the passing rate for all students was 78 percent, 63.8 percent for black males and 54 percent for black males and other male minority students in Visions.
Thompson and other college officials received the information about how African-American males are doing on campus Wednesday as part of a session to devise strategies to help put more of them on the road to academic success.
"The college itself has been ready to discuss this," said Thompson. "Now that we're doing it, we're going to be poised to better use our resources.
Wednesday's session also included a panel discussion of black male students that was moderated by Durham Tech President Bill Ingram. The students talked candidly about their hopes, fears and what they believe they will need to do to achieve success at the college.
"Be right here," said student and Vision member Jamal Rudolph, when Ingram asked panelists what they thought they would need to do to be one of the three out of 10 black males who enter college and stay long enough to graduate.
Other panelists agreed that in addition to studying hard, building relationships with other students and being heavily involved in campus activities are instrumental in reaching graduation goals.
"More of this needs to happen," said Justin Johnson, referring to the opportunity for students to engage in candid dialogue with college officials.
Panel members said they worry that because they are black males, employers will stigmatize them in spite of their accomplishments.
"Will I be judged on what I know and what I can do?" asked Rudolph, an ex-convict. He said that his "past hinders me sometimes."
Jason Williams, president of Visions, wondered if employers will "dig deep enough to see a person?"
Ingram said the session reinforced much of what he already knew. He said black males face many of the same challenges -- balancing school with managing adult lives -- that are common to other students on campus.
"African-American males face the added challenge of stigma, whether self-imposed or imposed by the community," Ingram said. "Those other challenges are things we have to be aware of." |
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