The American College Student

Interested in furthering the conversation on college students in the United States

[amcolstu]

The Newsroom states we are a part of the worst generation in history, but Millennials stand far from possessing the title of worst generation. The current American economy and political spectrum along with the fight for civil rights provide strong arguments against past generations. We should...

[amcolstukem14j]

I believe you bring up a good point in stating millennials are forward thinking in terms of diversity and strive to change their environment. By acknowledging baby boomers and generation Xers are currently changing policy it is imperative for millennials to work with them to view the forward thinking that will change the world. All these generations can work together to embrace controversial topics in government such as rights regarding to diversity. By identifying where the power lies generations can better serve the people for change.

[amcolstukem14j]

Millennials Developed From the Worst Generations Ever

I refute Will McAvoy’s statement millennial students are the worst generation ever. Many of the problems millennials are blamed for creating have been built upon from past generations. Every generation has flaws, and because every generation is built off past generations I challenge every generation to consider how millennials have developed functions of society for more innovative functions. 

In this satirical video, millennials: "We Suck and We're Sorry", individuals of the millennial generation apologize for assumptions and stereotypes of millennials. Actors distinguish problems millennials are blamed for such as destroying the economy, environment, and manufacturing industry were not started by the millennial generation, but rather built upon by generations before us. By realizing no generation is better or worse than another generation, individuals can better distinguish how to use a generation’s strengths to progress as a society.

Scott Hess the Vice President of a global youth research firm states in his TEDx Talk there are three reasons why previous generations hate the millennial generation. The first reason is millennials are different than other generations. No generation is the same, and sometimes distinguishing and accepting the differences can be challenging. The second reason Hess states is other generations are jealous of millennials. The millennial generation has taken many concepts old generations developed and recreated them to better accommodate our generation. Hess uses Facebook as an example of replacing previous generations yearbooks. Millennials find ways to innovative old concepts for a more developed world environment. The third reason is millennials discovered how to extend their adolescence. Millennials continually challenge social norms outlined by previous generation such as: becoming an adult, getting married, and starting a family at a young age. Millennials redefine many norms, and ideas developed by previous generations. 

Hess argues the millennial generation has developed from previous generations; so, other generations should not be quick to claim millennials are the worst generation ever. Baby Boomers and Generation Xers have raised and influenced the millennial generation, and are partially responsible for the development of the millennial generation. I relate Hess' argument millennials are an extremely progressive generation. Millennials are changing the way higher education institutions function and redefine success. I believe millennials are about to redefining the word success in terms of education, and accomplishments

Millennials are challenging the way institutions function regarding to higher education. Coomes and DeBard (2004) claim there is so much attention focused on Millennials because Millennials are assumed to be a generation of great accomplishments. Since millennials make up the majority of the student population at higher education institutions studying how to better educate the millennial generation becomes a necessity. 

Nikirk (2012) claims teaching strategies must change drastically to accommodate for how millennials are able to learn. With technology continually developing and a stronger focus on teamwork it is the duty of educators to integrate these components into the classroom. Millennials are continually developing, and it is important to develop educational processes.

While the millennial generation has many flaws I justify it is not the worst generation because the members of the millennial generation were produced by previous generations. Students in the millennial generation are challenging how higher education professionals operate, and create new outlets for learning opportunities. 

References

Coomes, M. D., & DeBard, R. (2004). Serving the millennial generation. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Nikirk, M. (2012). Teaching millennial students. The Education Digest, 77(9), 41-44. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1010398596?accountid=7113

[amcolstukem14j]

Self-Segregation or Developing Diversity

My primary purpose of this blog is arguing against the statement: Self-segregation of various student sub-populations is a problem for college campuses.

Based on evidence, I propose higher education institutions create more diversity outlets and opportunities among college students allowing for students to become more comfortable around individuals of different race, gender, social class, etc. 

The University of Maryland staff incorporates diversity in more administration areas than admissions. The university stresses the importance of focusing on diversity throughout the college experience and provides opportunities through the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. In this video the viewer hears from students of different diversities talking about their collegiate opportunity to interact with individuals with different diversities than he/she identify with. The students state the importance of their interactions and learning about other individual’s diversities during their higher education experience. Students continually defy self-segregation by creating friendships and utilizing the outlets provided to them by the university.

Julie Park, an assistant professor of education at the University of Maryland, evaluates how racial and social economic diversities relate to benefit college students. In her book, When Diversity Drops: Race, Religion, and Affirmative Action in Higher Education, Park (2013), discusses the difficulties of individual interaction with those of a different background, but explains the benefits outweigh the initial discomfort. Researchers continually study the importance of how higher education institutions encourage and allow for interaction between students of different diversities and break the self-segregation of college students.

McRae-Yates (2009) conducts a study on higher education institutes efforts to institutionalize diversity. McRae-Yates (2009) states initiatives to include diversity programs at higher education institutions actively enrich the student experience. Students indicated because of diversity programs they connect with other students with more meaningful dialogue (McRae-Yates, 2009).

Overall researchers evidence supports the argument self-segregation becomes less of a problem at college campuses because an increase in diversity programs. Saenz (2005) compares student’s precollege diversity experiences and environments against student’s college diversity experiences and environments. Saenz (2005) claims, “public universities that are more structurally diverse and that foster more diverse curricular and co-curricular activities can positively affect students’ levels of interactions with diverse peers” (30). By implementing programs and initiatives to create inclusive campuses, higher education administration's goal is for individuals to break self-segregation trends.

 One might argue individuals feel closer with others they identify with because diversities the individual classifies as important. Eddins argues in The "Myth of Self-Segregation," “This isn’t an attempt to segregate. It’s an attempt to survive.” Eddins’ evaluates Harvard students and gives a narrow view of college student populations. While I recognize students need to have individuals they can relate to based on diversity, many studies and news articles highlight the diverse relationships formed at higher education institutions. 

I believe it has become extremely important for universities to create environments where students can learn and grow by exploring their own and others diversities. Through these initiatives I predict higher education institutions will break the tradition of self-segregation. If higher education administrators and students continue to use the resources and create new opportunities to interact with individuals then self-segregation will cease to exist. 

[amcolstu]

When the assignment for this blog post became the prompt “Black student enrollment in higher education is declining,” my immediate thought process turned to a widely perpetuated idea (I choose not to call it a statistic since I have never seen any data) that more black men are incarcerated...

[amcolstukem14j]

While I think you make an interesting argument I do not see the correlation in the data and through your sources. I believe the two pieces of data are not interdependent and would be interested to see more of a correlation between how enrollment and incarceration are related. I think further information and research would need to be provided to prove a distinct correlation in your argument.

I agree with your statement "the conversation about black men in college needs to shift from whether or not they are attending to how we can support their success once their in the classroom." I believe it is important to look at how we can better aid our students. There are many ways to expand this conversation past is black student enrollment increasing in higher education institutions.

I don't believe you assessed the question we addressed in class. I would be more interested to see how your research is relevant in what we discussed in class. I believe there could be interesting research developed however the research would have to be conducted at a scope that is inclusive to black individuals in higher education and prison.

[amcolstu]

Here are a few generally credible sources for data about college students in the U.S. I’m not saying any of these are “right” or “best,” but these sources do have a history of or reputation for quality data.

National Center for Education Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov)

–Annual Reports:

[amcolstukem14j]

Higher Enrollment in Higher Education: The Black College Student

While the question "Is black student enrollment in higher education declining?" is a very broad question I am going to provide information supporting enrollment of black students in higher education is not declining. To define my scope I would like to look at enrollment over the last 50 years. I will use the National Center for Educational Statistics for my primary source of information of higher education enrollment. 

I believe having a wide range of diversities on college campuses has become more relevant in higher education. Higher education institutions have started to make a push to encourage all diversities to invest in a higher education degree. Cross and Slater (2004) state black enrollment in christian colleges has risen due to the active recruitment of this demographic of individuals. I believe Cross and Slater (2004) bring up an important point that could be applied to all types of colleges. I believe as diversity becomes more relevant higher education institution see a need to ensure opportunities to explore these diversities on their college campus. On the College Board website the pictures they display on the home page include individuals representing minorities. The college board website serves as an example to ways minorities have been marketed to attend higher education institutions.

The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education (2004) stated while there has been fluctuation in the number of black college students attending higher education institutions there has been an over all increase since the U.S. Department of Education began surveying enrollment in 1975. Analyzing black college enrollment over a 40 year span from 1960-2001 according to the National Center for Educational Statistics, I would feel safe arguing black student enrollment in higher education has risen since the 1960's. There has been a rise in enrollment. While there have been years in which enrollment fluctuated comparing 1960 to 2001 there has undoubtedly been an increase in black student enrollment. 

Looking at black enrollment in 2011 according to the National Center for Educational Statistics  in reference to the 1960 chart there is an even larger increase in enrollment. 

While I can say with certainty black college enrollment has increased over the last 50 years I believe the data I have collected is only a start to the research that should be conducted regarding black enrollment in higher education institutions. Further research that could answer specific questions would be to look at certain classifications of institutions (private, public, religious, HBCU, etc). I would also be more interested in posing the question in regards of enrollment how many black individuals are graduating from higher education institutions. 

Cross, T., & Slater, R. (2004). Black enrollment at the nation's christian colleges are on the rise. Christian Higher Education, 3(4), 391-399. doi:10.1080/15363750490507393

African-American College Enrollment Rates Are on the Rise. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, 45 (Autumn, 2004), pp. 43-44