Journalist Richard Whitmire discusses how to significantly improve graduation rates of first-generation, low-income, minority college students in his sixth book, The B.A. Breakthrough: How Ending Diploma Disparities Can Change the Face of America.
Whitmire, a past president of the Education Writers Association and former editorial writer for USA Today, discussed the book and related issues with Diverse.
How did you become interested in issues of college student persistence, particularly among first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented minority groups?
As a veteran K-12 education reporter, for many years I tried to identify high-poverty school districts that succeeded where others had not. That proved to be problematic, because a district that appeared to be making significant progress would suddenly fall behind again, often the result of a reform leader pushed to the side. As a result, I started tracking charter school networks: Were they doing any better? Eventually, I settled on the success measurement those charter networks had originally proposed to parents: We will ensure that your children will earn a college degree. So were they? That’s an interesting story, which I tell in the book. But in short, after a fitful start, it appears that is happening, at a rate between two and four times better than what would be expected. The lessons they have learned are invaluable, and need to be absorbed by others.
What are the top reasons students from underrepresented groups drop out of college before graduating, and in which of those areas do you see the most improvement?
The students I interviewed were very high-poverty, and only going to college on near-full scholarships. Their financial issues were more the gap issues – how to pay for mandatory freshman-year orientation, how to pay for mandatory health care, how to deal with all the unexpected expenses that scholarships don’t cover. Beyond that, I’d say that culture shock emerged as the top reason for dropping out. They found themselves isolated and wary of asking for help. For some, the freedoms of college, a sharp contrast to their tightly scripted life in high-performing charters, proved to be too much to handle. The one area with the most promise: microgrants designed to pay for the small things, such as a bus ride to college or transition funding between grants. These microgrant programs present an opportunity for people of modest means to make donations that really have impact.
How are partnerships between community colleges and four-year schools affecting baccalaureate degree attainment among underrepresented students?
