Actually, Actually, That That DoesDoes

ComputeCompute::Steps to Steps to

Success in Success in Graduate Graduate

SchoolSchoolPresented by

Jeff HarligIU School of Social

Work

What Do We Know?What Do We Know?

Persistence for black students Persistence for black students can be tough at a PWI can be tough at a PWI (predominantly white (predominantly white institution)institution)

Funding is criticalFunding is critical Learning the system is criticalLearning the system is critical Mentoring is criticalMentoring is critical

Keys to Retention ― Keys to Retention ― ExternalExternal

Mentoring by supportive Mentoring by supportive professors and staffprofessors and staff

Support from black peersSupport from black peers Respect from professorsRespect from professors Continued fundingContinued funding

(Johnson-Bailey, 2004)(Johnson-Bailey, 2004)

Keys to Retention ― Keys to Retention ― Personal Personal

Leadership opportunitiesLeadership opportunities Community serviceCommunity service Mentoring othersMentoring others

Leadership, support & Leadership, support & social networks at social networks at Indiana UniversityIndiana University

Greek-letter Greek-letter OrganizationsOrganizations

Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Psi Iota Phi Theta Iota Phi Theta Omega Psi Phi Omega Psi Phi Phi Beta Sigma Phi Beta Sigma Sigma Gamma Rho Sigma Gamma Rho Zeta Phi BetaZeta Phi Beta

Field-specific Field-specific OrganizationsOrganizations

Black MBA Association Black MBA Association Black Law Student Black Law Student

AssociationAssociation MESA - Multicultural MESA - Multicultural

Education Student Education Student Association Association

Other Black Other Black OrganizationsOrganizations

Black Scholars CollectiveBlack Scholars Collective Black Graduate Student AssociationBlack Graduate Student Association Blacks Like Us (GLBT)Blacks Like Us (GLBT) Brother to Brother (IUPUI, K-12 Brother to Brother (IUPUI, K-12

mentoring)mentoring) African Students Association (grad African Students Association (grad

and undergrad, U.S. citizens and and undergrad, U.S. citizens and other nations)other nations)

AGEPAGEP

Through University Graduate SchoolThrough University Graduate School

BiculturalismBiculturalism

““The greater the degree of The greater the degree of biculturalism exhibited, the biculturalism exhibited, the greater the [level of] adjustment greater the [level of] adjustment of minority students to the culture of minority students to the culture of a predominantly White college of a predominantly White college or university.”or university.”

(Braxton, 2003)(Braxton, 2003)

Be Bicultural!Be Bicultural! You have two wardrobes: You have two wardrobes:

Take what’s beneficial from the Take what’s beneficial from the dominant culture and “wear” it dominant culture and “wear” it when the occasion calls for it.when the occasion calls for it.

With the folks who knew you With the folks who knew you back in the day, wear your back in the day, wear your comfortable clothescomfortable clothes

Underneath, you are still who Underneath, you are still who you’ve always beenyou’ve always been

Here’s a well-kept Here’s a well-kept secret…secret…

White People White People CanCan Help Help You!You!

(Though they might be a (Though they might be a little annoying while they’re little annoying while they’re

doing it….)doing it….)

A ChallengeA Challenge

Identify and use your support Identify and use your support networknetwork

Continue to develop your Continue to develop your consciousness as an African consciousness as an African AmericanAmerican

And then ….And then …. Just be YOU for a little while every Just be YOU for a little while every

day day