Understanding the role of institutional communication and the Black male experience in higher education

Abstract

A number of qualitative studies have been conducted regarding the phenomena of Black male engagement and persistence in higher education (Harper, Patton & Wooden, 2009; Mitchell, 2015; Woldoff, Wiggins & Washington, 2011; Wood, 2014a). Many of these studies highlight the continued struggles that Black male collegians encounter when they attempt to navigate the vast and often unfamiliar environment that they face when they enroll in college. This thesis is designed to complement those studies and to provide additional research into the experiences of Black males in higher education by focusing on institutional communication and its role on their community college experience. This study was designed to research the experiences of Black males enrolled in community college with a dedicated focus on understanding the impact of institutional communication on their experiences while attending a community college in the Northeast. Keywords: Black males, Institutional Communication, Grit, Resilience, Focus, Engagement