Date of Award
9-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Executive Leadership
First Supervisor
Dr. Byron K. Hargrove
Second Supervisor
Dr. Arleen Hogan
Abstract
Black and Latino male students continue to graduate at lower rates than their White and female peers, particularly at PWIs in the Northeastern United States. To address these disparities, many institutions have adopted educational opportunity programs (EOPs) to provide academic, financial, and social support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Although EOPs have demonstrated effectiveness in supporting underrepresented students broadly, limited research has focused on the impact of EOP from the perspectives of Black and Latino male recent graduates. Using the theory of student involvement (Astin, 1984) and social capital theory (Bourdieu & Passeron, 1986; Coleman, 1988), this qualitative case study explored the impact an EOP had on student engagement, social integration, and academic persistence for eight male EOP alumni (six Black and two Latino males). These participants were enrolled in the EOP for at least two semesters and graduated between 2019 and 2024. Data were collected through virtual one-on-one semi-structured interviews and analyzed using inductive coding and thematic analysis. This study focused on four areas: campus engagement, academic persistence, social capital, and sense of belonging. The findings revealed that the EOP played a significant role in the participants’ persistence by offering mentorship, academic advising, financial resources, and culturally affirming support systems. Participants credited the EOP with helping them develop confidence, build peer networks, and persist through challenges. These insights help to underscore the importance of assessing recent graduate perceptions and the value of promoting more culturally responsive support programs.
Recommended Citation
Watson, Kashonda, "Black and Latino Male Alumni Perceptions of Educational Opportunity Program Impact on Campus Engagement, Social Capital, and Persistence at a Public University" (2025). Education Doctoral. Paper 626.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/education_etd/626
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.