ENHANCING PROGRAM COMPLETION RATES AMONG TWO-YEAR COLLEGE STUDENTS OF COLOR

Abstract

The growing proportion of students of color enrolled in postsecondary education makes the ongoing issue of their retention and program completion an increasingly important concern in higher education. Survey data from a national study of chief student affairs officers (CSAOs) on retention barriers and strategies were merged with 1995 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Completions Survey Data. A regression analysis was conducted to identify the significant predictors of program completion rates for students of color at 573 two-year colleges. An institution's program completion rate for students of color was used as a proxy measure for its success in retaining students of color. Demographic and institutional characteristics that entered as predictors included having a CSAO of color and being a two-year college in a large city. Retention strategies that entered as predictors included having individuals of color serve on the board of trustees and having minority peer tutoring programs. The percentages of faculty and administrators of color, and the amount of contact that CSAOs have with students of color, entered as the strongest predictors. Two-year colleges reap the benefit of faculty-student and peer interactions in the form of greater institutional success in increasing their program completion rates for students of color. Two-year college policy makers, administrators, and faculty can use the results of this study to promote equity and maximize talent development by designing and implementing retention policies and practices that enhance program completion rates for students of color.