Recruitment and Retention of Minority Students in Small Colleges

Part of a project of the small college interest group of the Central States Speech Association investigating problems of speech departments in small colleges, this paper reviews the findings of two workshops conducted by the Association of American Colleges and the Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education on problems of black students in predominantly white institutions. The paper discusses typical areas of frustration for black students in these settings, steps that faculty could take in trying to become positive agents for change, and methods for initiating programs of this kind. The paper also describes efforts by a college to deal with these problems, including having special programs in the office of admissions, a task force set up by the president of the institution, and a special office for black students in the office of student affairs. (EL)