Dive Brief:
- Virginia Commonwealth University has gained attention for raising graduation rates of underrepresented minorities, but the men in these populations — especially black men — remain behind.
- Richmond Times-Dispatch reports the six-year graduation rate for black students overall is 63%, higher than the institutional rate of 62%, yet within those numbers, only 51% of black men graduate in that timeframe.
- Shawn Utsey, a professor of counseling psychology at VCU, expects the university environment is a contributing factor, forcing black men into isolation to avoid rejection by others who see them as threatening or menacing, keeping them from the social and academic support that helps other groups succeed.
Dive Insight:
VCU is far from the only school dealing with a gender gap in graduation, especially among underrepresented minorities including blacks, Latinos, and Native Americans. The Times-Dispatch reports the graduation rates for black men and women who first enrolled at the University of Virginia in 2009 were 91% and 85%, respectively. While white women tend to graduate at higher rates than white men, the margins are significantly smaller. At VCU, there is no gap among Asian students.
J. Luke Wood studies student outcomes at community colleges, primarily, developing strategies to address disparities, including professional development. He recommends six action steps to improve outcomes for men of color, steps that ultimately improve the learning environment and outcomes for all students at a variety of institutions.