Recruitment and retention practices for African American students in music units of selected colleges and universities

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Authors
Wilson, Lorraine P.
Advisor
Buttram, Joe B.
Issue Date
1990
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (D.A.)
Department
School of Music
Other Identifiers
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate recruiting and retention practices for African American music students in selected colleges and universities. This study also investigated model programs formulated for the improvement of African American student enrollment in higher education, generally or in other professional fields and specialized programs.Subjects in the study were twenty-two music executives in music units of selected colleges and universities based on three general criteria as follows: (1) Historically Black Colleges and Universities whose enrollments were 4,000 and above; (2) Institutions that participated in the Richardson Study and cited for having success in minority student access, retention, and graduation; and (3) Institutions that participated in the National Black Student Retention Conferences (1987 or 1988).A survey questionnaire was completed by the subjects in order to determine the effectiveness of recruitment and retention practices and strategies employed by music units. The data were organized for analysis by frequencies, percentages and calculations of chi-squared statistics.The results of this study suggest that there are a variety of recruiting practices and admission policies that may impact increased enrollment of African American students in music units. Various retention practices were determined that may promote persistence and achievement. Support services were identified as financial resources and special assistance programs. Other factors included non-academic retention predictors and the presence of African American faculty in the music unit.Another valuable source of information regarding the recruitment and retention of Black students was found in eight model programs. Recruiting strategies included outreach programs, precollege programs, linkages with elementary and secondary schools, faculty, staff and alumni involvement, and flexible, multiple criteria for college admission. Retention strategies included support services that focused on the academic, cultural and social needs of African American students.This study revealed numerous findings which may be employed by music units. These findings offer supportive evidence for the development of model programs that promote and enhance access, retention, and graduation for the African American music student in higher education.