Central Piedmont Community College

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS for African American Male Students The Students’ PerspectiveDecember, 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students 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) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Provide more innovative courses • Cato Middle College • Summer Bridge Program • TRIO Courses • Short term programs • Prep course for Placement Test • CPCC Website • ACA Classes • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students Transitioning to College Cont’d What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students 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) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • 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 • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students Time Management Cont’d What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students 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,) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • N/A • Security • Easy registration • Teachers • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students 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) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • N/A • 3MP • Security and staff advising about proper dress code • CPCC is a diverse place to be • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students Stereotypes/Cultural Differences Cont’d What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students Studying(too much schoolwork, lack of effort, how to study and take notes, recalling previously learned information, coming prepared for class) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • 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 • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students Studying Cont’d What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students 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) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • N/A • Available information • Early registration • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students 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) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Offer reassurance • Encourage students to ask questions • Offer rewards • Give grades for participation • Male mentoring • Study groups • Field trips • Counseling • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students 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) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • N/A • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students 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) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students 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) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • N/A • Availability of F.A. • Tuition payment plan • This Focus Group • Internet application (F.A.?) • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students Finances Cont’d What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • 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

Overcoming the Challenges of African American Male Students 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) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Insert Instructor-related Changes Here • CPCC email • Tutoring • Counselors • 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

Next Steps: Moving from Data to Strategies

Action Grid: Moving From Data to Strategies

Questions or comments? Thank you for your time!

Central Piedmont Community College