The Lived Experiences of African American Community College Achievers in Developmental Education: A Phenomenological Study

• In Event: 14.022 - Exploring the Lived Experience of College Access and Readiness Through Qualitative Inquiry

Abstract

More than 60 percent of community college students are deemed non-college ready and required to enroll in non-credit bearing developmental education courses. Developmental education courses are typically defined as courses offered at postsecondary institutions below college level instruction. Developmental education in the community college can be a bridge or barrier to degree attainment for minorities, particularly African Americans, a racial minority that require developmental education more than any other racial/ethnic minorities. Utilizing an anti-deficit achievement framework, coupled with community cultural wealth and validation theories, this research provides a voice and captures the essence of how African American achievers describe, interpret, and understand their journey to college readiness.

Author

• Janice Marie Hicks, Eastfield College