Critical Contexts and Relationships That Threaten Black Men's Persistence in Engineering Graduate Programs

• In Event: Graduate Student Experiences

Abstract

While much is known about how Black students negotiate and navigate undergraduate studies, there is a dearth of research on what happens when these students enter graduate school. This article presents the results of a study of 21 Black male graduate students in engineering from one highly ranked research-intensive institution. This paper provides evidence of structurally racialized policies within the engineering college (e.g., admissions), and racialized interactions with peers and advisors that threaten Black men’s persistence in engineering. We argue for taking an anti-deficit approach to understanding Black men’s persistence in engineering. We conclude with implications for policy, practice, and research that could further improve the scholarship and experiences of Black men in engineering graduate programs.

Authors

• Brian A. Burt, Iowa State University

• Krystal L. Williams, The University of Alabama

• William A. Smith, University of Utah