1. Factors Preventing African American Males From Attending Four-Year Universities
Chandler Wilkins
Dr. Francis Owusu, Faculty Mentor
Department of City and Regional Planning
Look at STAT report for this presentation
Look at final write up
Change Mcnair Program twice

2. Background Information
A survey was distributed to African-American male students at Olympic High School in Charlotte, North Carolina to determine which factor played a larger role. My research showed that societal factors played a larger role in the male’s decisions to attend or not attend a four-year university.
I had six friends in high school, all except one wanted to attend a four-year university
Post-graduation
Two attend a four-year university
Three work full time
One started an associate’s degree, but did not finish and now works full time

3. What is preventing students from attending four-year universities?

4. Research Question
Are societal factors or individual attributes more influential in shaping African American male's decisions to attend a four-year university?

5. Societal Factors vs. Individual Attributes
Influences that are outside the control of individual students
Example: the amount of resources offered by the high school, availability of family financial support for college, etc.)

6. Societal Factors vs. Individual Attributes
Factors that encourage students to not attend college, but pursue other options
Example: joining the military service, opting to work, etc.

7. Methodology Created a Qualtrics survey
Researched schools in North Carolina with high demographic of African American males
Met with high school’s administrators
Held an assembly to discuss survey with students
Disseminated survey to African American, male, high school students
Met with faculty to describe survey
Held an assembly to discuss survey
Disseminated to African American, high school males who attended a particular school at the larger high school in North Carolina

9. Methodology continued
Survey assessed which factor was more influential
Societal factors
Individual Attributes
Nine participants

10. Flow of Survey
Generic demographic questions about the composition of household
College attainment or nonattainment of family members
What resources were available for participants
Did participants plan on attending a university?
Yes No

11. Example Questions for ‘Yes’ Respondents
Which steps have you taken to prepare for college? (Mark all that apply)
How well prepared do you feel for college?
What factors were the most helpful when deciding to attend college? (Mark all that apply)
What could have been done better to prepare you for college?

12. Example Questions for ‘No’ Respondents
What are your post-graduation plans?
What made you choose that option?
Have you ever thought about attending college, why or why not?
What could have been done better at your high school as far as supporting students?

13. Results
My research showed that societal factors were more influential in African American male’s decisions to attend or not attend a four-year university.
Societal Factors broken into:
Community
Family

14. Community Positive Supportive
College preparation and mentorship programs were helpful
Negative
Students were unaware of the opportunities offered to them
Lack of mentorship
Limited access to resources (i.e. libraries, churches, grocery stores, etc.)

15. Family Positive Supportive Negative Lack of support
College was too expensive
A few students could not attend a four-year university due to family obligations.
Talk about story and the green sheets here after the last statement

16. Future Directions Survey a larger portion of students
Find other methods of preparing students
Example: more college preparation programs, mentoring programs, etc.
Study the historical context of societal factors

17. Special Thanks Faculty Mentor Dr. Francis Owusu
Iowa State University McNair Program
Dr. Thelma Harding
Dr. Ashley Garrin

18. Questions?

19. References
Fitzgerald, Terence. "Control, Punish, and Conquer: U.S. Public Schools' Attempts to Control Black Males." Challenge 12.1 (2006): Print.
Garza, Kristopher K., Steve F. Bain, and Lori Kupczynski. "Resiliency, Self-Efficacy, and Persistence of College Seniors in Higher Education." Research in Higher Education Journal 26 (2014). Print.
Grantham, Tarek C. "Multicultural Mentoring to Increase Black Male Representation in Gifted Programs." Gifted Child Quarterly 48.3 (2004): Print.
Lynn, Marvin, et al. "Examining Teachers' Beliefs About African American Male Students in a Low-Performing High School in an African American School District." Vol Print.