A Decentralized Graduate Admissions Process And The Impact On Black Student Enrollment In A Selected Higher Education Institution: An Action Research Study

This study examined the lower enrollment of Black students in graduate programs compared to their enrollment in undergraduate programs. In today’s climate with the recent Supreme Court case rulings and the enrollment cliff, recruiting Black students is both challenging and incredibly important. To address this problem, the study explored how a decentralized graduate admissions process affects enrollment for Black students. The participants in the study are Graduate Admissions Professionals (GAPs) at The University who oversee the graduate admissions process for their individual academic units. For this action research study, the GAPs completed a diversity and inclusion workshop that focused on admissions requirements and the evaluation process of applicants to measure the impact a workshop would have on Black student enrollment. Participants completed a pre-intervention survey, a feedback survey, a post-interventionsurvey, and an individual one-on-one interview with the researcher. Mixed methods were employed by first analyzing the pre- and post-intervention surveys using descriptive analysis through a Paired Samples t-test. The feedback survey and interview responses were transcribed and analyzed using a coding process. The study findings suggest that a diversity and inclusion-focused workshop can help align graduate admissions practices with institutional missions and values. Practical recommendations from the study are (a) detailed diversity goals with accountability metrics, (b) partnerships with the DEI office to make data-driven decisions regarding application requirements, (c) expand workshop participation to all who are involved in the process, and (d) modify workshop to include interactive experiences.