Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Department
Learning, Leadership and Change
First Advisor
Dr. Robert Calvert
Second Advisor
Dr. Jonathan Toccoli
First Committee Member
Dr. Tanya Anderson
Abstract
Community colleges face a significant challenge with high attrition rates, which disproportionately impact Black students compared to other student groups. Hope Community Colleges reflect this trend, with a notable percentage of students dropping out before achieving their academic goals. The implications of this high dropout rate extend beyond individual students, affecting the local, state, and national economies.
Although existing research primarily focuses on students’ personal characteristics that influence their ability to stay in college, there is a noticeable gap in understanding the institutional factors that negatively affect student persistence, particularly for Black students in community colleges. This study sought to address this gap by identifying institutional factors, as perceived by Black students, that contribute to their decision to discontinue their studies before completing their program. The insights gained from this research aimed to equip Hope Colleges with valuable information to recognize and address the institutional barriers influencing students’ decisions to drop out.
The significance of this research lies in addressing the alarming rates of student departures, especially among Black students. The primary research questions focus on identifying institutional factors that negatively impact the success of Black students at Hope Colleges, and the support systems that could have helped them persist in their studies.
The conceptual framework for this study revolves around three essential elements: (a) transition, (b) engagement, and (c) support services. Situated in Hope Community College District, which encompasses four community colleges in Northern California, this qualitative study employs a general qualitative approach using semistructured interviews to understand the experiences of Black students who dropped out. The goal was to provide a nuanced understanding of the institutional factors influencing their decision to leave before completing their academic programs.
Pages
161
Recommended Citation
Emiru, Tadael. (2025). Understanding Institutional Factors That Hinder Black Students’ Ability to Persist at Community Colleges. University of the Pacific, Dissertation. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/4293
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