Date of Award
8-2012
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Executive Leadership
First Supervisor
Janice Kelly
Second Supervisor
Byron Hargrove
Abstract
The scarcity of empirical research on the impact of Black Greek letter organizations on academic achievement and personal development remains problematic. The purpose of this qualitative ethnographic study was to discover the role of Kappa Alpha Psi in the academic persistence and personal development of eight alumni members over the last 30 years from one high achieving chapter located at the State University of New York Center at Binghamton. Participation was delimited to those who joined the organization no later than their sophomore year of college. The study utilized a purposeful sample technique to identify and select the eight chapter participants who participated in individual structured open-ended interviews. Five themes emerged from the data collected during the interviews – the importance of brotherhood, achievement, personal development, mentoring, and community service. Peer expectations, mentoring and active participation in community service created an atmosphere of academic achievement and personal development amongst the members. This study provided empirical support to the idea that involvement Black Greek letter organizations can breed the qualities that colleges and universities are spending considerable amounts of funds and human resources to develop.
Recommended Citation
Cordero, Joseph, "Mu Kappa Chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.: An Ethnographic Study of Academic Persistence and Personal Development" (2012). Education Doctoral. Paper 112.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/education_etd/112
Please note that the Recommended Citation provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations.