Graduate Program
College Student Affairs
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Semester of Degree Completion
2006
Thesis Director
James Wallace
Thesis Committee Member
Wilson Ogbomo
Thesis Committee Member
Steven Conn
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to identify factors that both motivate and deter African American male faculty and administrative staff members of Eastern Illinois University to be both recruited and retained at the institution. Subsequently, the attrition and retention of these individuals was the focal point of the research. A naturalistic, qualitative research designed was used during the current study. Specifically, a selected sample of African American male faculty and staff members from the institution under study were interviewed, soliciting responses that addressed issues such as the university's perception of the participants, the participants' views on the campus climate as well as that of the surrounding community, the factors which led to their decision to accept employment at the institution and their perceptions on the probability of advancement at the institution under study.
Findings showed that African American faculty and staff members felt the campus community, particularly their given department members, were very supportive regarding their professional development and advancement. They cited that their level of comfort with the campus climate at the institution under study was fairly high although they had very little contact with the surrounding community, acknowledging that the surrounding community did not have much to offer them spiritually, intellectually and socially. While lack of community resources served as a significant de-motivator to participants, interaction with students and supportive administrative supervisors proved to motivate participants to persist in their careers at EIU. The findings are followed by recommendations for administrators of similar predominantly white institutions and future researchers who are interested in the subject matter of the study.
Recommended Citation
Hawkins, Jahquan Clayton, "African American male faculty and student affairs professionals at Eastern Illinois University: Motivations to work in the academy" (2006). Masters Theses. 776.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/776
