ABSTRACT
Over the years African-American students have increasingly enrolled in predominantly white institutions. A review of the characteristics of effective retention models demonstrates that there is no shortage in concepts or ideas to assist universities in retaining African-American students. However, even with the implementation of these models, African-American students continue to leave higher education without accomplishing degrees, which is cause for concern by the higher education community. Despite the enrollment gains at independent colleges and universities, lower-cost public institutions enrolled the vast majority of African-American students. A review of the literature is needed to determine critical issues affecting performance, persistence, and graduation rates of African-American students attending postsecondary institutions. Institutional factors that impact student attrition can be viewed in two categories: organizational policies and institutional or campus climate. In its application to the retention of African-American students, total quality management and the Learning Paradigm appear to offer bright prospects.
