Closing The Gap In Higher Education: African American Male College Students Perceptions Of Advising At A Two Year College

The attrition of minority students is fast becoming a salient issue in higher education. Academic advising has long been viewed as a determinant of participation, persistence and success. Persistence focuses on retention. Participation and success are two objectives of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's initiative "Closing the Gap." This study used quantitative and qualitative methods to examine African American male college students' (AAMCSs) perceptions of advising center practices, advisor practices and affinity factors and their influence on participation and persistence. Data collected from a sample of 225 AAMCSs was analyzed to determine if academic advising was indeed a tool that facilitates participation and persistence. The findings suggest that there is a significant relationship between AAMCSs perceptions of advising center practices, advisor practices and affinity factors (family, peer, and social connections).