Date of Award

2-22-2016

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

John Kuykendall

Abstract

While there is research on the impact of Greek Letter Organization membership on college student engagement and success, the focus is primarily on the experiences of White students with mixed results. The findings in these studies include lower moral and cognitive development and less concern for social issues than their non-Greek counterparts. However, other research has identified potentially positive outcomes associated with Greek membership, including increased opportunities for leadership development and higher levels of student involvement. In particular, participation in Black Greek Letter Fraternities (BGLFs) has consistently been found to be the most popular avenue for African American men as a mechanism for increased academic success and leadership development. This qualitative comparative multiple case study examines the experiences of African American men who are members of a Black Greek Letter Fraternity at a Predominantly White Institution and a Historically Black University in the American South. Data were collected through interviews with 12 students and 2 Greek-Life administrators. The interview protocols were based on the conceptual framework for the study, which consisted of pre-college conditions, individual factors, and organizational factors variables theorized to affect student success. The findings include emerging issues, provide implications for the original conceptual framework, and suggest implications for theory.

Share

COinS