Candidate: Nancy Greer-Williams

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Teaching, Learning and Leadership

Title: Underrepresented Doctoral Students: The Cultural and Institutional Barriers that Impact Successful Graduation

Committee: Dr. Van Cooley, Chair
Dr. Louann Bierlein-Palmer
Dr. Marianne DiPierro

Date: Thursday, October 28, 2004 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
3208 Sangren Hall, Merze Tate Conference Room

Abstract: African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian doctoral students continue to have attrition rates substantially higher than their White counterparts (Lovitts, 2001). Attrition was defined as not just the reduction in numbers because of resignation or death but also the act of weakening or exhausting by constant harassment, abuse, or attack (Merriam-Webster, 2004). Research to date on this topic has focused on causes and barriers that can be attributed to mainstream groups, not on particular cultural barriers that may adversely affect doctoral persistence among underrepresented groups (Golde & Dore, 2001). This study collected the lived experiences of these students and turned them into conceptualized statements in an effort to understand the meaning of their experiences in post-secondary institutions.
It was found that cultural and institutional barriers at early levels of education greatly impacted underrepresented students' abilities to successfully integrate into doctoral programs. The underlying assumption was that these students depart early from doctoral programs because of a lack of finances. However, not having an insider's knowledge of the doctoral process had more impact and caused heightened perceptions of racism, alienation, as well as impacted relationships with dominant group members.

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