Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

Nancy B. Walters

Abstract

AbstractThis project study addressed the problem of low persistence of Black men in community college. A southeast Texas community college study site implemented a mentoring program specific to Black men in 2013 following a data report from The Achieving the Dream program. Although the mentoring program had been implemented with progress, there were no student data captured to substantiate the program’s existence. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify success strategies used by Black male community college students who persist to graduation attainment. The conceptual framework driving this research is Deci and Ryan’s self-determinant theory of intrinsic motivation. Three research questions were posed to investigate what Black men at the college perceive as critical influences on persistence based on their college experiences, challenges or barriers, and motivating strategies to persist for successful outcomes. Ten Black men were recruited from the former Black male mentoring program, current mentoring programs, and the general population. Qualitative data were collected through an interview process, data were transcribed, and results were manually analyzed with codes and themes for the study’s findings. Key results were that Black male college students who are highly motivated, exercise effective time management skills, and engage with faculty, mentors, and peers tend to persist in college. The conclusion was that intrinsic motivation plays a significant role in student persistence and success. From this study, a professional development workshop was developed to help the Black male population persist. This study could lead to positive social change by increasing Black male persistence rates in community college.

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