This guide contains sources related to Black student success. It was created to support the goals of DVC’s 2022-2025 Student Equity Plan, which aims to improve the rates of enrollment, completed transfer-level math and English, persistence from first to second term, completion, and transfer for Black/African American students and foster youth.
The guide is organized around categories based on the abovementioned outcomes targeted for improvement in the Student Equity Plan (enrollment, persistence, etc.), while also including additional categories which offer a broader perspective. One of these categories provides a comprehensive look at overarching trends and data, and another examines the systemic and intersectional forces that shape student experiences. A section is also included which contains resources which may be used for professional development purposes. The sources in this guide are accessible through the DVC Library or freely on the open web. Certain sources have been included in more than one category when it seemed appropriate.
Enrollment
Adedoyin, O. (2022, September 2). What happened to Black enrollment? Chronicle of Higher Education, 69(1), 1.
Cooper, D., Bush, E., Endrijonas, E., King, T., Lundy-Wagner, V., Cooper, M., Harper, S., Wood, J. L., Harris, F. III, Luster, P. (Moderator), & Curry, K. (Moderator). (2021, September 1). Sounding the alarm: Addressing the declining representation of Black students in California’s community colleges [Webinar]. Center for Organizational Responsibility and Advancement (CORA).
Harris, F. III, & Wood, J. L. (2022). Increasing the enrollment, retention, and success of men of color in community colleges: A framework for policy and institutional responsibility. San Diego State University, Community College Equity Assessment Lab.
HCM Strategists, LLC. (2023). Level up: A call to action for prioritizing Black learner success in postsecondary education. Lumina Foundation.
Marcus, J. (2023, May 27). The college student gap between Black and white Americans is getting worse, report says. USA Today.
Palmer, R. T., Wood, J. L., Dancy, T. E., Strayhorn, T.L. (2014). Black male collegians: Increasing access, retention, and persistence in higher education (1st ed.). Wiley Periodicals Inc.
Stout, K. (2023, May 22). We can and must do better to help Black students enroll in college and succeed. The Hechinger Report.
Persistence
Banks, T., & Dohy, J. (2019). Mitigating barriers to persistence: A review of efforts to improve retention and graduation rates for students of color in higher education. Higher Education Studies, 9(1), 118–131.
Boyraz, G., Horne, S. G., Owens, A. C., & Armstrong, A. P. (2013). Academic Achievement and College Persistence of African American Students With Trauma Exposure. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60(4), 582–592.
Harris, F. III, & Wood, J. L. (2022). Increasing the enrollment, retention, and success of men of color in community colleges: A framework for policy and institutional responsibility. San Diego State University, Community College Equity Assessment Lab.
Mungo, M. H. (2017). Closing the gap: Can service-learning enhance retention, graduation, and GPAs of students of color? Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 23(2), 42–52.
Palmer, R. T., Wood, J. L., Dancy, T. E., Strayhorn, T.L. (2014). Black male collegians: Increasing access, retention, and persistence in higher education (1st ed.). Wiley Periodicals Inc.
Pendakur, V. (Ed.). (2016). Closing the opportunity gap: Identity-conscious strategies for retention and student success (1st ed.). Stylus Publishing, LLC.
Wood, J. L. (2012). Leaving the 2-year college: Predictors of Black male collegian departure. Journal of Black Studies, 43(3), 303–326.
Wood, J. L., & Williams, R. C. (2013). Persistence factors for Black males in the community college: An examination of background, academic, social, and environmental variables. Spectrum: A Journal on Black Men, 1(2), 1–28.
Wood, J. L., Bush, E., Hicks, T., & Kambui, H. A. (2015). Black male collegians in community colleges: Factors affecting their persistence and academic success. In S. R. Harper, J. L. Wood, & M. H. Amechi (Eds.), Advancing Black male student success from preschool through Ph.D. (1st ed., pp. 77-99). Stylus.
Transfer
Cooper, D. M., Brohawn, K., Nguyen, A., Purnell, R. D., Redix, A., & Segovia, D. (2022). The African American transfer tipping point: Identifying the factors that impact transfer among African American/Black community college students (Brief 1 of 3). The RP Group
Cooper, D. M., Brohawn, K., Nguyen, A., Purnell, R. D., Redix, A., & Segovia, D. (2022). The African American transfer tipping point: Recommendations for supporting transfer-motivated African American/Black community students (Brief 3 of 3). The RP Group.
Cooper, D. M., Brohawn, K., Nguyen, A., Purnell, R. D., Redix, A., & Segovia, D. (2022). The African American transfer tipping point: Unpacking the factors that impact the success of transfer-motivated African American/Black community college students (Brief 2 of 3). The RP Group.
Cooper, D. M., Brohawn, K. (2023). The African American transfer tipping point: Exploring the transfer journeys of over 7,000 African American/Black community college students. The RP Group.
Mowreader, A. (2023, November 14). Report: Strengthening community college student transfer. Inside Higher Ed.
Completion
Henderson, S. (2024, April 17). Umoja program increases completion rates among Black students. The Connection.
HCM Strategists, LLC. (2023). Level up: A call to action for prioritizing Black learner success in postsecondary education. Lumina Foundation.
Nichols, A. H., & Evans-Bell, D. (2017). A look at Black student success: Identifying top- and bottom-performing institutions. The Education Trust.
Thomas, A. A. (2014). Supporting Black college students. In Immigrant and native Black college students: Social experiences and academic outcomes (1st ed., pp. 227-234). LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC.
Math & English
Ellington, R. M., & Frederick, R. (2010). Black high-achieving undergraduate mathematics majors discuss success and persistence in mathematics. The Negro Educational Review, 61(1–4), 61–84.
Camardelle, A., Kennedy, B. II, & Nalley, J. (2022). The state of Black students at community colleges. Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.
Cuellar Mejia, M., Alesi Perez, C., Jacobo, S., Garcia, F., & Rodriguez, O. (2023). Tracking progress in community college access and success. Public Policy Institute of California.
Gallup, Inc., & Lumina Foundation. (2023). Balancing act: The tradeoffs and challenges facing Black students in higher education. Gallup, Inc.
Harper, S. R. (2012). Black male student success in higher education: A report from the National Black Male College Achievement Study. University of Pennsylvania, Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education.
Irwin, V., Wang, K., Tezil, T., Zhang, J., Filbey, A., Jung, J., Bullock Mann, F., Dilig, R., & Parker, S. (2023). Report on the condition of education 2023 (NCES 2023-144rev). National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education.
Miller, B. (2018, July 12). New federal data show America still needs to improve college access. Center for American Progress.
Wood, J. L., & Palmer, R. T. (2013). Understanding the personal goals of Black male community college students: Facilitating academic and psychosocial development. Journal of African American Studies, 17(2), 222–241.
Banks, C. A. (2009). Black women undergraduates, cultural capital, and college success. Peter Lang.
Blockett, R. A., Ross, T. J., & Todd, P. A. (2022). Critical perspectives on Black students’ success. New Directions for Higher Education, 2022(197), 47–57.
Boggs, G. R., & McPhail, C. J. (2016). Diversity, equity, and inclusion. In Practical leadership in community colleges: Navigating today’s challenges (1st ed., pp. 81-110). Jossey-Bass.
California State University Black Student Success Workgroup. (2023). Advancing Black student success and elevating Black excellence in the CSU: A call to action. California State University.
Chambers, C. R. (2011). Support systems and services for diverse populations : considering the intersection of race, gender, and the needs of black female undergraduates (1st ed.). Emerald Group Pub. Ltd.
Commodore, F., Baker, D. J., & Arroyo, A. T. (2018). Black women college students : a guide to student success in higher education. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Dorimé-Williams, M. L., & Choi, S. (2023). Class, sex, and the role of involvement on Black collegians’ degree attainment. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 16(2), 194–204.
Harris III, F., Felix, E. R., Bensimon, E. M., Wood, J. L., Mercado, A., Monge, O., & Falcon, V. (2017). Supporting men of color in community colleges: An examination of promising practices and California student equity plans. College Futures Foundation.
Perrakis, A. I. (2008). Factors promoting academic success among African American and white male community college students. New Directions for Community Colleges, 2008(142), 15–23.
Shillingford, M. A., & Curry, J. R. (Eds.). (2015). African American students’ career and college readiness the journey unraveled. Lexington Books.
Shuford, B. C., & Flowers, L. A. (2016). African American college students. In M. J. Cuyjet (Ed.), Multiculturalism on campus: Theory, models, and practices for understanding diversity and creating inclusion (2nd ed., pp. 141-163). Stylus Publishing.
Strayhorn, T. L., & Terrell, M. C. (2010). The evolving challenges of black college students new insights for policy, practice, and research (1st ed.). Stylus.
Wood, J. L., Minority Male Community College Collaborative., San Diego State University. Interwork Institute., Harris, F., & White, K (2015). Teaching men of color in the community college: a guidebook. Montezuma Publishing.
Webinars
Buul, A. (Moderator), Aldredge, T. W., Cooper, D., Vines, E., Marshall, J., Bush, E., Irish, G., Jennings, C., & Tomaneng, R. (2020, April 27). Recommendations to improve the success of African American students [Webinar]. California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
Cooper, D., Bush, E., Endrijonas, E., King, T., Lundy-Wagner, V., Cooper, M., Harper, S., Wood, J. L., Harris, F. III, Luster, P. (Moderator), & Curry, K. (Moderator). (2021, September 1). Sounding the alarm: Addressing the declining representation of Black students in California’s community colleges [Webinar]. Center for Organizational Responsibility and Advancement (CORA).
Harris, F., Wood, L., Buul, A., Breland, B., & Handy, E. (2020, April 29). Making the case for African American student success [Webinar]. California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
Haugabrook, A., & Hines, M. (2023, February 24). Unique approaches to supporting Black and minority males through graduation [Webinar]. Upswing.
Many webinars are available for viewing on the Black Student Success Week Archive website. Black Student Success Week is a statewide initiative celebrating and advocating for Black student success in California’s Community Colleges.
