1. Asking the Unasked Question
Why Can’t more Men of Color Graduate?
Dr. Alissa Gardenhire
Kendrick T. Roundtree, M.S.
RADalyst, LLC
Black, Brown, and College Bound
March 1, 2012

2. Our Corporate Mission: Black Male Graduation
A radical catalyst for change in the educational lives of underrepresented students in higher education.
Change created through innovative, person centered research, evaluation and programming.
To develop active, engaged and internally motivated students who take ownership of their academic, personal and professional futures.

3. RADalyst, LLC Alissa D. Gardenhire, Ph.D. Kendrick T. Roundtree, M.S.
Principal and Director of Research and Evaluation
Harvard Doctorate in Urban Planning
20+ Years Social Science Research and Evaluation Experience
Author, “Terms of Engagement: Men of Color in Community College”
CCSSE’s National Advisory Committee on Improving Outcomes for Men of Color in Community Colleges
Student mindset and belief transformation expert
Kendrick T. Roundtree, M.S.
Principal and Director of Programming Communications
Masters of Human Services, Organizational Management and Leadership
20+ years experience in the Human Services field
Adjunct faculty at Springfield College
Coordinator of supported services to males of color

4. Presentation Overview
Where is the emphasis on graduation for males of color on the community college campus?
In institutions, colleges, the system?
In programming, supports, and services?
In the men themselves?
What are innovative responses to the graduation crisis of men of color?

5. First: Consider the System
Community colleges are attractive to men of color
Is there an institutional narrative for graduation and success for men of color in community college?
How do/don’t community colleges support Black and Latino male graduation?
Open enrollment
Low cost
More “friendly” institutional environment
Offer developmental coursework
(Practical) career focused majors

6. Second: Consider the Services
What is the true purpose of
General Advising Services
Supported Programming for Men of Color
How do/don’t general and targeted services support Black and Latino male graduation?
Basic campus support services
Overburdened advising and counseling
Level of cultural competency of staff
Services not tailored to the needs of men of color
Men of color groups
What are the missions of these groups?
Is graduation the emphasis of these groups?

7. Third: Consider the Students
Motivation
Engagement
Behavior
Beliefs
How do/don’t the students support their own graduation?
Why are men of color motivated to enroll in college?
Are they constrained by notions of manhood and race?
Can their behavior as students be self-sabotaging?
Do limiting beliefs about their potential for success undermine them?

8. RADalyst Approach
Using social science theories, tools, and assessments that have not been applied to this underrepresented student population.
Manhood
Stereotype Threat
Positive Psychology
GRIT Assessment
Fixed vs. Growth Mindset Theories
Person centered with strong success messaging

9. System Level Solutions
Graduation Mindset™ helps institutions establish the following:
Access is the starting place, graduation is the victory
Institutional indoctrination of a success expectation from men of color
Emphasis on cultural competency
Use of evidence based practices
Adequate resource allocation

10. Services Level Solutions
For existing programs and faculty and staff
Reframe notions of men of color as college students
Men of color as capable students, rejection of deficit-based models
Graduation Mindset™ Cultural Competency Training
Graduation focused program and services assessments

11. Student Level Solutions
Develop internal motivation for graduation
Students as true partners in service development
Break association with low societal standards
Reframe beliefs about Black and Latino male scholarship

12. RADalyst Projects Graduation Mindset™ Program Assessment
Graduation Mindset™ Cultural Competency Professional Development Training
Graduation Mindset™ Student Program

13. Contact RADalyst www.RADalyst.com Alissa D. Gardenhire
Kendrick T. Roundtree
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