Content area
Full Text
Abstract
The Predominately White Institution or PWI's in the Pacific Northwest, USA, try maintaining a sufficient number of African Americans represented in the student population. This number should reflect the population of the state. African American students at the PWI conquer and face many non-academic issues daily. This analysis of the African American Student Center in the Pacific Northwest PWI, will examine the PWI support for black students.
Fall 2004
Introduction
During the 1960's when colleges and universities opened their doors to African Americans and other minorities, the range of services available to assist these students on predominantly white campuses grew to include programs emanating from departments known as Multicultural Student Services, Multicultural Center Offices (African American Student Center, Native American Students Center, Chicano/Latino Student Center), and various types of cultural centers. In the realm of higher education the role that these offices play in the retention of students of color is important. As colleges and universities grapple with issues of multiculturalism and student retention in an environment of fiscal challenges, the effectiveness of special programs developed for minorities has become an important area of interest to educators, administrators and the general public. This paper examines the evolutionary role of the African American Student Center at a Northwest university. It highlights the role that an African American Student Center program can play in retaining students of color on college campuses. The specific objectives of this evaluative study are; 1) to provide university personnel in general with empirical information related to retention and multiculturalism in higher education, and (2) to identify some of the success factors that may be critical to the operation of African American Student Center programs for student retention.
History
The term "multiculturalism" is one that engenders controversy and confusion. "Multiculturalism" is defined in many different ways by a variety of scholars in many different contexts. In terms of education, multiculturalism can encompass issues of class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, gender, and geography. However, in this study, the analysis of multiculturalism is limited specifically to the ethnic and racial identities of students on college campuses and the programs that have been designed to meet their needs. "Minority" and "students of color" are used interchangeably throughout this paper to refer to...