Winter 1981 Study of Black Graduate/Professional Students Attending Predominately White, State-Supported Universities. Preliminary Report.

Characteristics, experiences, and aspirations of black graduate and professional students at six large and predominantly white state universities were surveyed in 1981. Attention was directed to grade point averages (GPAs), involvement in professional activities, program of study, educational and occupational histories, career choice, relations with peers and faculty, campus race relations, undergraduate experience, personal characteristics, and family background. Findings include the following: 50 percent had GPAs above 3.3 and 58 percent had GPAs above 3.0; 60 percent had not read a paper at professional meetings, 87 percent had not published a paper, and 84 percent had not been awarded research funding; 20 percent felt part of campus life (student activities); 60 percent were under 31 years old, and 25 percent were between 31 and 38 years old; 58 percent responded that professors sometimes involved black students in their research projects and nearly 25 percent said this never happened; 51 percent reported that white students sometimes avoided interacting with them socially, and 34 percent said that this happened often. It is concluded that faculty relations, social isolation, and supportive services may be influential in black student success. (SW)