Leadership Exchange - Summer 2009

African American male retention and graduation rates at U.S. colleges and universities have come under increasing scrutiny. According to Shaun Harper, assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education and principal investigator of the National Black Male College Achievement Study, 67.6 percent of

black male freshmen never complete their degrees. In fact, black men comprised only 4. 3 percent of all students enrolled at

U.S. institutions of higher education in 2003, the exact same percentage as in 1976. According to data from the Consortium

for Student Retention Data Exchange, the national overall graduation rate for African Americans after six years in school is

38 percent, compared with 56 percent for white students. Harper asserts that a severe lack of engagement among black male

students is contributing to the attrition problem.

The University of Pittsburgh’s Reaching Inside Your Soul for Excellence (RISE) program was conceived as an intervention program to address a critically important issue in higher education: African American male retention and graduation rates. The university’s Division of Student Affairs developed the RISE program to rectify the unique set of problems associated with the lower retention rates and poor academic success of these students.

Across the board, many students experience academic difficulties as they transition from high school to college. At the University of Pittsburgh, high academic achievers with grades that have placed them in the top fifth or tenth percentiles of their high school classes often enter the university unprepared for its academic rigors. The demands of a major university or college can cause academic difficulties for many students, and their grade point averages may plummet, with consequences ranging from academic probation to dismissal.

By specifically addressing students’ academic problem areas through tutoring and mentoring, the RISE program counters some of the perceived cultural inequities of disadvantaged groups early in their college careers. By boosting their academic performance through tutoring in math, science, and writing, and by providing stipends to pay for books, the program helps place these students on the same level with their peers. RISE also helps students identify their academic strengths and make better academic and personal decisions. The program raises awareness about academic and career interests and helps many students avoid the frustrations that can lead to high dropout rates.

Reaching Inside Your Soul for Excellence (RISE) The RISE program is aligned with the missions and visions of the University of Pittsburgh and the Division of Student Affairs, and supports an institutional goal of increasing retention numbers at Pittsburgh. To achieve this goal, the RISE program facilitates the development of a strong sense of self-identity, builds confidence in academic ability, fosters a sense of belonging, and increases participants’ overall satisfaction with the institution. The

university is seeking to produce educated, engaged, and socially responsible African American students who will make meaningful contributions to the university, their families, their communities, and the global society.

Students in the RISE program are expected to participate in a number of activities, including:

• Working with a community of mentors

• Attending Sunday evening mentoring/meal sessions

• Providing access to grades during the semester

• Becoming a viable member of a student organization

• Attending weekly study groups, success-driven events, and a reflection retreat.

The RISE program was piloted during the 2007–2008 academic year with 36 students. Of the original participants, 20 remain active in the program and 16 were noncompliant. The 20 students who remain in the program have an average GPA of 2.62 compared to 1. 13 for the noncompliant students.

RISE Participants

The academic progress of the current 80 RISE program participants is the greatest testament to the program’s potential. The RISE program shows promise as an extremely effective means to move under-represented students from poor academic standing to good academic standing. The chart below demonstrates the upward trend in GPAs among program participants.