A Perfect Storm: Men of Color and Their Perspectives on the College Transition

• In Event: 29.018 - Pathways to Achieving Equal Educational Opportunities for Teachers and College Students of Color

Abstract

Educational attainment rates for minority male students remain astonishingly low. This study examined the barriers minority male students experience in the college transition process accounting for the intersectionality of their identities. More specifically, we sought to understand how college readiness interacted with educational contexts to shape adaptation to college, the obstacles they faced, and how men of color mobilized resources to navigate through academic barriers. Findings show interactions between urban school experiences, college readiness, and masculinity affected both the challenges participants experienced as well as their ability and willingness to locate and utilize resources. Implications for policymakers, researchers, and higher education practitioners will be discussed.

Authors

• Diane Cardenas Elliott, Immaculata University

• Meghan Wilson Brenneman, Enrollment Management Association