Background Information
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself. 2. Tell me about your family.
3. Tell me about the role of education in your life. 4. Tell me about your high school experience. 5. Tell me about your college choice process?
6. What were the factors that contributed to your decision to attend this institution?
Academic Integration
1. Tell me about your goals in terms of your major. 2. How do you feel about your courses?
3. How much time do you spend studying? 4. Do you enjoy what you and studying and why?
5. How much do you feel you are learning in your courses?
6. How do you feel about understanding the material being covered in your courses? 7. What types of grades do you have in your courses?
8. Tell me about the academic organizations you are a member.
9. Tell me about your interactions with faculty (in and outside of class).
10. What are your reasons for your persistence at this institution from an academic perspective?
Social Integration
1. Tell me about the campus life here at this institution?
2. Tell me about your extracurricular activities on or off campus. 3. Describe your social involvements on campus and off campus.
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5. Describe how you view the opportunities you have to socialize with other students on the campus. 6. Tell about your interactions with staff members.
7. What are reasons for your persistence at this institution from a social perspective?
Combination of Social and Academic Integration
1. Describe your typical college day. What do you do from the time you get up in the morning to the to the time that you go to bed?
143 APPENDIX B
Invitation to Potential Study Candidates Dear <<Participant Name>>,
My name is Duane Donald. I am graduate student at the University of New Orleans and I am exploring the White undergraduate student experience while attending HBCUs as my
dissertation topic. Specifically, I am investigating the factors that determine whether a student will stay or depart an institution. I was referred to you by <<Gatekeeper’s name>>.
<<Gatekeeper’s name>> has been assisting me with identifying potential participants for this study that are White undergraduate students at your institution that are sophomores or beyond. <<She/he>> thought you were the perfect candidate to assist me in the research.
Information collected for this study will be used to fulfill the requirements of completing an original research project and for completion of my educational requirements for doctoral study. Currently, there is little information regarding this topic which is why your participation will be extremely helpful in the development of literature pertaining to the persistence of White students at HBCUs.
I plan to conduct 45 to 60 minute individual in-person interviews with participants at mutually agreed upon locations. Each participant, as well as the collegiate institution serving as the site of study, will be assigned pseudonyms to protect their rights to privacy. Further, only the
researcher and supervising faculty member will have access to participants’ personal information and data relative to this study.
It is my hope that you would like to volunteer to share your experiences and are willing to participate in this important research study. <<Attached/Included>> is a Participant Profile Form. Please complete the form and <<mail/email>> back to <<address>> indicating your intentions to participate. I will contact you by phone within one week of the mailing of this letter to confirm receipt of this correspondence, respond to any questions you may have and/or to request your willingness to participate in this study. Should you have any question are concerns before my call or to learn more about the study please contact me at
Home Phone: (985) 863-8609 Mobile Phone: (985) 201-2296 Email: [email protected]
In addition, you may also contact my major professor, Dr. Andre Perry with any questions or concerns at (504) 280-6443 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Duane A. Donald Doctoral Candidate
144 APPENDIX C
Confirmation Letter/Email of Agreement to Participate and Scheduled Interview Dear <<Participant Name>>,
I would like to thank you for agreeing to participate in this study. As a participant in this study, your contributions will assist me in answering the study’s research questions relating to White students’ experiences at HBCUs from an academic and social perspective.
Your interview is scheduled:
Interview Date: <<Date of Interview>> Location: <<Location of Interview>> Time: <<Time of Interview>>
I will contact you approximately two days before the interview to confirm our appointment. <<Included/attached>> with this <<letter/email>> is a consent form for your review. The
consent form outlines the purpose of the study, explains any risks associated with participation in the study and emphasizes the voluntary and confidential nature of the research study. Prior to the beginning of the interview, we will review the consent form and I will address any questions you may have. Once all of your questions have been answered both you and I will sign two copies of the consent form, one for your records and one for my records.
Should you have any questions, concerns, or need to reschedule the interview for a more convenient time, please contact me at:
Home Phone: (985) 863-8609 Mobile Phone: (985) 201-2296 Email: [email protected]
You may also contact my major professor, Dr. Andre Perry with any questions or concerns at (504) 280-6443 or [email protected].
Thank you for assisting me in completing this research study. Sincerely,
Duane A. Donald, Doctoral Candidate
145 APPENDIX D Research Consent Form The University of New Orleans RESEARCH TITLE
Factors that Influence the Persistence Rates of White Undergraduate Students Attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)