A Shifting Paradigm in the Recruitment and Retention of Underrepresented Graduate Students

Abstract

Efforts to recruit and retain a diverse graduate population at colleges and universities are undergoing a paradigm shift. Diversity has traditionally been operationalized as racial minority, yet recent court decisions have indicated that such a definition is legally problematic. As a result, institutional leaders are moving toward defining diversity in terms of “underrepresented.” However, little is known about the specific activities institutions are undertaking to attract and retain underrepresented graduate students. This study presents the results of a national survey of members of the National Association of Graduate Admission Professionals on the efforts their institutions are undertaking to attract and retain underrepresented graduate students as well as their perceived effectiveness of such activities.

Recruiting Undergraduate Students: Creating a Path to the Counseling Profession

“…Communicating the funding opportunities available can potentially influence underrepresented students to feel more connected to a program (Capomacchia & Garner, 2004). Poock (2007) provided the results of a survey of graduate admission professionals on specific activities used to recruit underrepresented students. Common strategies to attract and retain underrepresented graduate students included the graduate institution providing funding opportunities (i.e., assistantships, scholarships, grants), developing website, hosting graduate program visitation days.…”

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“…Communicating the funding opportunities available can potentially influence underrepresented students to feel more connected to a program (Capomacchia & Garner, 2004). Poock (2007) provided the results of a survey of graduate admission professionals on specific activities used to recruit underrepresented students. Quarterman (2008) reported that barriers to program recruitment included a lack of structured recruitment events, lack of financial support, and lack of access of eligible pool of students to recruit.…”

Recruitment Efficacy of a Summer Undergraduate Research Program: Impact on Graduate School Intent and Selection

“…Therefore, universities implement multiple activities to recruit diverse students for post-baccalaureate studies to their institutions. Some of the recruitment activities include offering informational meetings, campus tours, career fairs, summer research programs, and assistantships 3 to prospective students.…”

“…Poock 3 , who surveyed members of the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP), found that NAGAP members "perceived only one of the twenty five recruitment activities [assistantships] to be somewhat effective" (p. 174) at recruiting diverse students to graduate programs. Other activities including summer research programs were perceived as ineffective; however, Poock's findings differed when comparing perceptions of members at doctoral-granting and masters-granting institutions.…”

“…Other activities including summer research programs were perceived as ineffective; however, Poock's findings differed when comparing perceptions of members at doctoral-granting and masters-granting institutions. According to Poock, members at doctoral-granting institutions perceived multiple recruitment activities, including summer research programs, to be more effective than their peers at masters-granting institutions 3 .…”