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Central Piedmont Community College
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Transcript of 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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
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
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
N/A Security Easy
registration Teachers
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
N/A 3MP Security and
staff advising about proper dress code
CPCC is a diverse place to be
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
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
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
N/A Available information
Early registration
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
Offer reassurance
Encourage students to ask questions
Offer rewards Give grades for
participation
Male mentoring Study groups Field trips Counseling
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
N/A Advisors
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
N/A Availability of F.A.
Tuition payment plan
This Focus Group
Internet application (F.A.?)
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do
Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male StudentsOvercoming the Challenges of African American Male Students
Insert Instructor-related Changes Here
CPCC email Tutoring Counselors
What Instructors Can Do
What Currently Works
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
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
5. Studying - Identify groups and date for data presentation/discussion.
- Identify the groups that will have the authority & responsibility to address the common challenges.
6. Registering for Classes
7. Self Esteem
8. Academic Advising
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
9. Finances - Identify groups and date for data presentation/discussion.
- Identify the groups that will have the authority & responsibility to address the common challenges.
10. Communication with Teachers
Thank you for your time!
Questions or comments?