ABSTRACT
The retention rates of African-American men in community colleges are among the lowest of all ethnic groups nationally. This chapter analyzes organizational data for several cohorts of men in a longitudinal design for three semesters and utilizes logistic regression to identify the factors that best predict retention. A variety of relevant independent variables are suggested in the conceptual literature concerning theories of integration, attrition, and status attainment among community college students. To interpret the relative importance of the independent variables, we observed the significance levels and calculated the Delta-p statistic where appropriate. Additional variables that have distinctive manifestations in community colleges were high school preparation, perceptions of the need for academic assistance, and age. Facts and figures support the commonly accepted nexus between high achievement and higher education, especially for African Americans. Community colleges are the predominant entry point for postsecondary instruction for the majority of students of color, including African Americans.
