IR Information Alert

Volume 2, Issue 1 Office of Institutional Research

February 4, 2002 Southern Polytechnic State University

African-American Students at SPSU Despite a decline in total enrollment, the African-American portion of our student body has increased in the last decade. Be it through word of mouth in the National Society of Black Engineers, SPSU’s own SWOOP program, or attendance at Black college fairs, the word has spread that Southern Poly is an affordable, supportive institution whose degrees yield high paying jobs. What are the characteristics of our African-American student population? Fall 98 Fall 01 Total Enrollment.................. 396.................... 754 Average Age......................... 28.................... 27 % Female............................. 34%................. 33% Top 5 Counties of Origin Cobb........................ 94.................... 193 Dekalb...................... 79.................... 156 Fulton....................... 70.................... 134 Clayton..................... 24.................... 31 Gwinnett................... 18.................... 42 % Undergraduates................. 92%................. 87% % Part-time.............. 47%................. 52% % Graduates.......................... 8%................. 13% % Part-time.............. 88%................. 84% Top Majors Computer Sci............ 64.................... 142 Electrical ET............. 64.................... 80 Computer ET............. 51.................... 69 Management............. 40.................... 70 Mechanical ET.......... 36.................... 33 Pre Architecture........ 32.................... 40 Industrial ET.............. 31.................... 47 Tech/Prof Comm......... 9.................... 49 What do we know about our African-American graduates from the ACT College Outcomes Survey and how do their responses compare to whites’? 65% said they intend to earn a master’s degree, 23% said a doctorate. – 10% of white respondents said they intend to earn a doctorate.

57% reported they belonged to at least one college club or organization—42% of whites did. 38% said they were employed off-campus in their major field during their years at SPSU—43% of whites were. 75% said they would choose SPSU again, 87% said they would recommend SPSU to others and 80% said SPSU motivated them—responses were similar for whites except 72% said SPSU motivated them. 53% said SPSU is supportive of all races—70% of whites agreed with the statement. What about our African-American graduates? There were 61 total graduates during the past three terms (Fall 01, Summer 01 and Spring 01.) · 20% graduate · 39% female · average age 29 The top majors were: 12 Management, 10 Computer Science, 6 Industrial ET, 6 Computer ET, 5 Electrical ET. Those with transfer credit transferred in an average of 36 credit hours. 18 transferred in 0 credit hours. Two-thirds of those graduating achieved the degree in 4 years or less. Implications for the future. SPSU is more successful attracting and graduating female African-Americans than female white Americans. Let’s find out why. Why is there a disparity in black and white perceptions that SPSU is supportive of all races?