"To Be Alone in Grad School, That's a Death Sentence": An Exploration of Black Graduate Experiences

• In Event: Finding and Supporting Each Other: Black Students' Collegiate Experiences

Abstract

Racial equity in education requires focused attention on Black students in graduate school. The present study contributes to extant research on campus climate and equity through a qualitative exploration of 34 Black graduate student academic trajectories and experiences. Critical Race Theory (CRT) was utilized to center issues related to race and various forms of resistance to racial marginalization. The Culturally Engaging Campus Environments (CECE) Model provided a conceptual framework to interrogate pertinent elements of campus contexts that contribute to Black students’ sense of belonging and achievement. The preliminary findings highlight the importance of culturally relevant and responsive strategies that promote supportive institutional dynamics and outcomes. Recommendations to sustain the pipeline of Black graduate students through recruitment, retention, and resilience are discussed.

Authors

• James Crawford, University of California - San Diego

• Kirk D. Rogers, University of California - San Diego

• Ramon Stephens, University of California - San Diego