Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has launched a new program that aims to help African American students stay on track to graduation.
The new African American Student Retention Initiative (AASRI) will be led by Yvette McCutchen, a faculty member in the university’s College of Business and College of Urban Education. Along with other Davenport faculty members, McCutchen was inspired to create the AASRI after obtaining data that showed students of color were less likely to complete their degrees than their peers.
“We want our African American students to retain and graduate at the same level as their peers who are not the first in their families to attend college,” said McCutchen. “That’s what this program is all about.”
AASRI will focus on providing support services tailored to Black students’ academic, emotional, financial, co-curricular, and extra-curricular needs. The program will also work to identify funding opportunities that support first-generation students of color directly through scholarships or indirectly through support services on campus. Students involved in the AASRI will have access to a communication system that provides information on available support services.
In addition to benefits for students, the initiative will also offer cultural sensitivity training and continuing education for Davenport staff and faculty. As the program expands, the university plans to create partnerships with external organizations to provide internship and scholarship opportunities for AASRI participants.
“This isn’t just a program; it’s a movement to ensure every Black student has the resources, connections and support system not just to survive but absolutely thrive,” said McCutchen.
Davenport University enrolls about 3,700 undergraduate students and just over 1,000 graduate students, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. African Americans make up 14 percent of the undergraduate student body.
