The causes of poor college graduation rates among low-income, first-generation and minority students have pervaded the pages of academic publication for years, while the instances in which African-American students have outperformed their White counterparts in the same area have gone largely undocumented.
According to a new report released by Education Sector, an independent education policy think tank, there are currently 62 colleges and universities where the six-year graduation rates for Black undergraduate students outpace that of their White peers.
Typically, Black students graduate at a lower rate than White students at the same institution. And although Ivy League institutions like Dartmouth and Yale universities have achieved virtual parity as it relates to Black and White graduation rates through selective admissions, others such as Florida State University have worked diligently to develop effective retaining resources and initiatives that empower minority and low-income students to persist.
In 2000, FSU established the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE). Six years later, the university posted its highest ever six-year graduation rate for Black students — 72 percent.
By reaching out to high-risk students as early as the sixth grade, CARE is able to provide a steady stream of support for curious students and families. CARE meets with the students’ parents and provides them with information on college — from complicated financial aid forms and admissions applications to studying for the SAT.
“We work with the whole students. There is no issue that’s too small that we can’t help with, says Dr. William Hudson, the associate director of CARE.
Researcher Kevin Carey, author of the report, attributes the success of FSU and others to vigilance and dedication.
“What distinguishes Florida State from other institutions is that they are gathering information and investing in the resources to provide students with the necessary support,” says Carey. “It’s about being vigilant and making student retention an organizational policy and supplying the resources.”
