In recent years, researchers have shifted from pathologizing Black youths, when investigating the Black-White achievement gap, to focusing on factors contributing to their resilience and success. A critical review was conducted of three widely cited asset-based theoretical frameworks that are used to examine African American students' academic…

Black and Latino men are attending college at higher rates than ever before, yet their increased access has not led to increased success, as Black and Latino men face greater barriers to their success than do White and Asian men. The challenges to timely graduation for these populations are even greater at Christian colleges. The purpose of this…

Empathy is the ability to understand the thoughts, behaviors, and feelings of others. In addition to fostering strong relationships and overall personal growth, empathy plays a crucial role in college students achieving positive academic outcomes. However, a knowledge gap exists concerning the role and impact of empathy among college students,…

Using Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a guiding conceptual framework, this qualitative study examines black students' and parents' perceptions of school discipline and its impact on academic achievement. The findings support the notion that out-of-school suspension has a negative impact on the academic achievement of African American students and…

This dissertation explores the perceptions of African American male students regarding mentoring programs at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It evaluates the impact on career planning, academic performance, and self-efficacy. Using a causal-comparative mixed-method research design,…

Historically, de jure systemic racism in the United States and the California housing market resulted in a lack of Black family access to housing in affluent neighborhoods, generating a Black-White wealth and income gap still observed today. Even after eliminating much of this outright discrimination, these economic gaps caused de facto…

The academic achievement of Black boys in the U.S. has been declining, and Black male mentorship can positively change these outcomes. Schools have tried many interventions to help Black boys receive the academic, social, and emotional support they need to close the performance gap. Some case studies have proven that Black male mentorship works.…

Former NFL football star Deion Sanders set off controversy when he announced he was leaving his post as head football coach at Mississippi's Jackson State University, a historically Black college or university (HBCU), to go to University of Colorado. Jonathan E. Collins discusses how the concept of HBCUs could be taken up by public schools that…

Marijuana use has been linked to poor undergraduate student academic performance, yet cannabis continues to be the substance most often used by college students. The purpose of the current research was to add to the limited body of literature about the relationship between female undergraduate marijuana use and lower GPAs. The study explored how…

This quantitative correlational study aimed to investigate how the implementation of exclusionary disciplinary measures impacts the academic performance of African American students in urban school districts of Louisiana, and to explore gender differentials in the application of exclusionary discipline practices. Linear regression results indicate…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of campus climate on the success of Black women in STEM disciplines, focusing on those who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) versus those who attended non-HBCUs. Utilizing a quantitative causal-comparative design, this research aimed to evaluate the perceptions of…

Currently, African American male students' persistence rates in four-year colleges are tremendously low in comparison to students of different ethnicities. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the predictability of selected athletic, demographic, and academic factors on the persistence of African American males attending a four-year…

Is the achievement gap real? Using a mixed-methods approach, this study reframed standardized testing through a Quantitative Critical and Black Critical lens. It interrogated the deficit framing of Black student achievement by asking the following questions: (1) To what extent do the aggregated standardized test scores for Black students in…

The purpose of this study is to examine principals' perceptions of the necessary components to ensuring Black males matriculate to college through their college-going culture in high schools, and how principals and school leaders can identify common practices on campus and focus on ways to develop readiness and achievement. The study used a…

African American student academic performance is a topic of much concern in the U.S. (Allen, 1992; Cokley, 2000, 2002, 2003; Cokley & Moore, 2007; Cokley et al., 2015; Harper et al., 2012; Harper, 2015; Steele, 1992). Thus, the task of closing the academic achievement gap between Black and White students is a worthy assignment undertaken by…