Delgado Community College
M. A. L. E. S.
(Men Achieving, Learning and Effectively Succeeding )
Applicant’s Name
Mr. Gregory A. Dawson, M. Ed.
Campus/Unit
West Bank Campus
Division/Area
Arts & Sciences
Amount Requested
$900.00
M. A. L. E. S.
(Men Achieving, Learning, and Effectively Succeeding)
Abstract
The state of gender equity in higher education varies tremendously by age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Some say there is no crisis in the enrollment of males in higher education. However, there are pockets of real problems. In particular, African-American, Hispanic, and low-income young men lag behind their female peers in terms of educational attainment and are far outpaced by white, Asian-American, and middle-class men and women. M. A. L. E. S. (Men Achieving, Learning, and Effectively Succeeding) is designed to address one of Delgado’s concerns in terms of increasing the retention of minority students especially males. The M. A. L. E. S. project will therefore, provide an outlet for males to convene as a learning community to discuss issues of particular interest and to devise practical solutions and ideals that will lead to males becoming better informed, critical thinkers, and responsible citizens contributing positively to society. Ultimately, becoming successful, well educated men, and contributing to the increase of the retention of males and increasing the number of male completers for the College.
Needs Statement:
A. How Will the project impact the College’s mission?
According to a report done by Cook & Sacks, females now outnumber males by a four to three ratio in American colleges, a difference of almost two million students. Men earn only 43% of all college degrees. Among Blacks, two women earn bachelor’s degrees for every man. Among Hispanics, only 40% of college graduates are male. Female high school graduates are 16% more likely to go to college than their male counterparts. As Delgado continues to see a decrease in the number of male students as appose to the escalating number of females enrolled in the college, a project such as M. A. L. E. S. (Men Achieving, Learning, and Effectively Succeeding) coupled with one of the College’s Noel-Levitz goals of increasing the retention of minority students, especially African American males, Delgado’s mission will be greatly impacted. This project will impact Delgado’s mission by creating an outlet for males to come together as a community of learners seeking a common goal, discussing issues relating to males and creating ideas/ideals that will lend itself to making a difference in terms of retention, education, awareness, setting goals/aspirations, and becoming productive healthy citizens. Topical issues will include: Retention, Critical Thinking, Understanding Cultural Biases, Waiting to Exhale: Fact or Fiction?, Unshackling the Chains of Educational Oppression, Understanding Feminist Thinking, and A Healthy Mind is Hard to Maintain. The M. A. L. E. S. project will most definitely mesh with the College’s mission of preparing students from diverse backgrounds to attain their educational, career, and personal goals to think critically, to demonstrate leadership and to be productive and responsible citizens.
B. How will the project enhance the teaching-learning process?
The teaching/learning process will be greatly enhanced in that male students will gain a better
understanding and appreciation of the importance of an education and what it can do for them, how to become a productive male, and connect students with faculty. The learning process will be enhance in that students will be focused on learning and partakers of the process which will foster a more in-depth desire on the individuals behalf. Participants will become better prepared for courses and subsequent courses, responsible, better managers of their time, critical thinkers, and become stake holders in their own educational successes.
B. Objectives
1. What are the major objectives of the project?
The goals/objectives of this project will be to help students’ develop critical thinking skills, effective expression, and positive attitudes through exposure to the world of higher education. Develop peer support in classes, create better faculty-student relationships. And, to empower male students’ to think, collaborate, and participate in a challenging student-centered learning environment that will enables them to achieve their optimum potential academically, socially, personally, and culturally.
2. What will be the specific results, expected outcomes or benefits of this project?
The results and expected outcomes will:
) Contribute to the male student being successful
) Assist in the retention of male students’
) All participants will gain an increased appreciation and understanding of a college education
) Assume leadership roles
) Exposure to positive male role models
) Give back to the college experience by assisting other males that may not be a program participant
) Contribute to the male student completion rate
3. What positive effects will this have on your specific area or on the institution?
Participants of the M. A. L. E. S. pro ject, will create an environment conducive to Delgado’s mission. In addition, Delgado will have male student’ whose attitudes and behaviors will consistently improve - academically, socially, and culturally. M. A. L. E. S. will have played an important role in encouraging, inspiring and preparing males to take a positive place in society. Also, M. A. L. E. S. would have taught the males to believe in themselves as well as to reach back and help others. This strong sense of identity and pride will create an increase in self-awareness, positive self-esteem - uplifting attitudes and behaviors that will emanate throughout their educational careers.
C. Strategy/Work Plan
1. How will the major objectives be accomplished?
The objectives will be accomplished by hosting monthly interactive forums to address each goal via the use of positive male role models, formal discussions, community volunteers, faculty presenters, professional speakers, and alumni.
2. What timetable will be used?
The project will commence in February 2004 and continue throughout the Spring 2004 semester, ending in May 2004
.
D. Evaluation and Report
1. How will the project be evaluated?
The evaluation of the project will be evaluated via the completion of forum evaluations, student satisfaction surveys, participant feedback sessions and tracking of project participants by semester.
2. How and when will the results of the project be presented to the appropriate segments of the College community?
The M. A. L. E. S. project results will be submitted to the appropriate College designee at the completion of the project or upon request.