FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PERSISTENCE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC UNDERGRADUATE MALES ENROLLED AT REGIONAL PREDOMINATELY WHITE INSTITUTION

The purpose of this study is to explore factors that may contribute to the persistence and graduation rates of African American and Hispanic undergraduate males enrolled at regional fouryear public universities in Texas. African American and Hispanic males have lower graduation rates in both secondary and post-secondary education than their White peers (Harper, 2010; Swail, Cabrera, Lee, & Williams, 2013). The qualitative research investigated characteristics that exist among African American and Hispanic undergraduate males who have persisted and were retained at the university through their senior academic year. The research problem was explored through the lens of critical race theory and racial microaggressions. Focus group interviews were administered that allowed the researcher to explore the individual experiences of African American and Hispanic males regarding academic and non-academic factors that may have served as supports and/or barriers to their persistence. A thematic analysis was conducted to evaluate the qualitative data.