A Survey of Black Connecticut High School Graduates Attending Out-of-State Colleges and Universities

Abstract

This study was undertaken as result of many discussions with black college students attending the state university and colleges in Connecticut. Apparently these students look forward to having thousands of black students matriculating at each of the schools. With the percentage of nonwhites in the state at 6.5 per cent there is some question as to whether this is possible drawing only on Connecticut students (1970 census). Admission officers have stated that in order to increase the numbers of black students at Connecticut institutions, nearly all of the black college-bound state high school students would have to stay in-state. At the time of this study (1972) many black students were leaving the state, and were it not for the recruitment of out-of-state students, the numbers at the state university would not be as large. Mr. David Clayborne, Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Connecticut, has stated repeatedly that he is in competition with schools throughout the country. The Black student who qualifies for admission to UCONN is sought after by colleges and universities everywhere. We just cannot compete. He also cites factors like girl friends and boy friends attending schools out-of-state and the fact that students in the Northeast seem to look down upon state-supported -schools, as reasons for the black student exodus out of state. John Floyd, Assistant Director of Admissions of Central Connecticut State College, echoes similar feeling both as an administrator and the father of black student attending an out-of-state school. He feels that a top-flight black student from Connecticut will usually end up at Yale, Harvard or some other Ivy League