Diverse Conversations: How Can We Increase Minority Graduation Rates?

Many schools focus on recruiting a diverse student body. But, once the students arrive on campus, not every institution spends a significant amount of time on retention. Neglecting retention strategies means that fewer students ultimately graduate from college and that shortcoming disproportionately affects minority students.

If colleges and universities want to see higher graduation rates among their minority students, then support after enrollment is the key. And here’s how it can be improved.

Changing the student population

Often, minority students can have trouble fitting in when a student body doesn’t contain a large number of minority students. While many institutions have diversity initiatives in place, they aren’t always functional when financial capacity also is a factor. One method for increasing the diversity of the population as a whole is to use a need-blind approach during the admissions process; an approach that had significant success at Vassar.

By eliminating financial status as a consideration, low-income, minority applicants may have increased opportunities for admittance as the school doesn’t limit the number of students admitted based on factors like the receipt of funds from the Federal Pell Grant. As the minority population rises, other minority students will see the college or university as having a policy of inclusion.

Student support services

Onsite student support services can be a major factor in overall retention. This includes access to no-cost tutoring programs, work-study opportunities, and even financial aid assistance.