In June 1964, a group of six black students broke the University’s color barrier. Nearly 43 years later, 2,124 black students are enrolled, but the University is still working to improve the graduation gap between black and white students. Only 14 percent of all higher education institutions have graduation rates higher than 70 percent for black students who were first-time, full-time freshman in 2000, according to a report by Education Sector. Education Sector, an independent analysis firm, released a report April 21 listing the graduation rate gaps of universities and colleges. It lists the percentage of black and white students who entered the school in 2000 and graduated within six years. Black students at the University have a graduation rate of 51 percent, while white students have a rate of 59 percent – an 8 percent gap. The report only calculates students who began college as first-time, full-time freshman in 2000. The schools in the report also did not count students who have transferred to other colleges or universities. Katrice Albert, vice provost of Equity, Diversity & Community Outreach, said the University’s gap rate is “very good” for a large public institution in the South. Albert said higher education scholars who study retention and graduation rates suggest two main factors effect rates – finances and “connectivity” to the overall college experience. “These factors are especially critical to ethnic minority students,” Albert said. “Ethnic minorities may take longer than six years to graduate and/or they may decide to leave school for a while to work full-time.” James McCoy, vice provost of enrollment management, planning and policy, said an 8 percent gap between black and white students is positive, considering the University’s size and history, but having any gap is still negative. McCoy said gap rates at universities have more to do with socioeconomic attitudes and geography than it does with a student’s aptitude. Albert said the diversity issues in higher education are complex and have political, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds. While LSU’s negative 8 percent gap rate does not seem high, many universities have low or nonexistent disparities. At Florida State University, a public school in Tallahassee, Fla., 72 percent of black students graduate within six years versus 69 percent of white students. FSU implemented the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement in 2000. The program recruits low-income students from local schools as early as sixth grade. They provide students and their parents with information to help them get to college and succeed. They also provide summer and after-school programs to help them through the financial aid application process, complete college applications and study for the SAT and ACT. Six years after CARE started, FSU reported their highest-ever six-year graduation rate for black students – 72 percent. McCoy said LSU works hard to make students feel comfortable and prepare them to graduate in a timely manner. Albert said LSU has the Summer Scholars Program to help improve the graduation rates of high-achieving black students. They are given the opportunity to come to campus the summer before their freshman year and connect with a group of peers. Albert said “summer scholars” have had better graduation rates than the overall rate with 63.3 percent. Black students at Spring Hill College, a private school in Mobile, Ala., are 24 percent more likely to graduate within six years than white students. Universities like Michigan State and Indiana, have more than 20 percent gaps between their black and white students. White students at Michigan State are 24 percent more likely to graduate within six years than black students. McCoy said there could be four big reasons the gap exists among universities and colleges: finances, family issues, homesickness and academics. He said the most important thing to do to help students graduate on time is to change their first-year experience. “We are in the process of trying to revamp the first-year experience,” McCoy said. “Research will show you if you do well in your first year, you’re more likely to do well in the subsequent years.” He also said LSU is trying to do a better job in advising students and tracking student progress toward their degree. “We have to keep working to enhance the retention and graduation for all students, which would close this racial gap,” Albert said. “That includes enhanced advising and counseling … assisting with enhanced financial aid packages … and improving first-year experiences to address all of those ‘connectivity’ issues.”
—-Contact J.J. Alcantara at [email protected]