Organizational-Level Racioethnic Matching: The case of College Faculty and Students

Abstract

The current study examined the implications of the degree of organizational-level racioethnic match between employees and customers for organizational outcomes. Specifically, we explored the extent to which racioethnic matching between college-level faculty and students influenced overall student graduation and retention rates three and six years later. In addition, we explored the extent to which the demographic racial profile of students at the college influenced the nature of this relationship. Based on a sample of 285 colleges and universities in the United States, results revealed that racioethnic matching was positively associated with overall student graduation rates. Additionally, there was some evidence that matching had a more positive and significant effect on minority compared to White student graduation rates. Further, effects on graduation (overall, and by student race) and retention rates were moderated by the proportion of minority students at the college or university. Matching generally ...