Input and Environmental Characteristics in Student Success: First -Term GPA and Predicting Retention at an Historically Black University.

This study is aimed at determining the input and environmental factors which contribute to the academic success or failure of students at an historically black institution. Three files were merged with first-time and transfer freshmen characteristics to serve as a basis for the quantitative analyses. On the qualitative front, a case study of college life at Southern University, Baton Rouge was performed. Data were collected from interviews with students, recent graduates, and University personnel. Additionally, the case study involve analyses of institutional records between 1993--1997. The quantitative data analyses revealed that ACT scores, gender, enrollment status, age, and housing arrangement significantly influenced academic success, while ethnicity and the residence of students did not. There was a negative correlation between students\u27 age and ACT, ethnicity, housing, enrollment, and admission status as well as between GPA and students\u27 gender, while first-term GPA and ACT scores were positively related to retention and graduation. Findings from the qualitative study confirmed some of this. Overall, the quantitative results of the study clearly showed that the first year of college may be critical to the success of students in terms of their GPA, persistence behavior, and attainment of a degree. Perhaps the most striking finding from this study was that the University was effective in retaining its students. The approach used in the prediction also indicated weaknesses inherent in the use of raw count or averages for determining retention rates. On the other hand, in the qualitative study, self-determination, interaction with the faculty, and family support were found to be central to the success of the students. Also suggested was that the achievement of the students may depend on their preparation, gender, living on campus, and other variables revealed in the quantitative study. Additionally, qualitative study indicated that the level of integration of students into the University community and a caring and nurturing environment contributed to their success. Use of these complementary methods provided better insight into understanding the complexities surrounding student life on college campuses today, particularly that of African Americans at an historically black institution

The Reflooding of Planet Earth

This pandemic is unlike anything I\u27ve ever witnessed in my life. From rampant tissue paper purchases, to overpopulated hospitals worldwide, to the stock market plummeting, it appears as if the next shedding of Earth has arrived. The infrastructure of our society could be reconstructed completely.https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/gone-viral/1000/thumbnail.jp

The Reflooding of Planet Earth

This pandemic is unlike anything I\u27ve ever witnessed in my life. From rampant tissue paper purchases, to overpopulated hospitals worldwide, to the stock market plummeting, it appears as if the next shedding of Earth has arrived. The infrastructure of our society could be reconstructed completely.https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/gone-viral/1000/thumbnail.jp

Another Story Artist Statement

For my project I want to dive into the topics of colonialism, power, and corruption and how these issues relate to the current state of Nigeria. Nigeria’s history is rich, yet dark. Being that music is also such a driving factor within any culture, I felt that it would be best to express this through a series of large paintings that incorporate elements from Nigerian musicians that have impacted the masses through their knowledge on these topics. One of the paintings is 36 x 48 in. and is based on Burna Boy’s “Another Story” music video. This piece will be one of a series of three paintings. There are a few scenes throughout the video where there are students sitting in a classroom with black cloths wrapped around their faces. Each cloth has a different word pertaining to a socioeconomic issue on it. This scene stood out to me and I decided to take three of the faces and include those in my painting. Below the floating heads are the many small homes and buildings in a village called Agbada Owo in Nigeria. The village appears to be tranquil, but one can see that it’s also ablaze in the far mountains. In the sky there’s a road running past the closest two heads. On this road is a presidential vehicle. This represents the fact that politicians are able to travel by air, while the average Nigerian would have to walk, or take the public transportation to get around

Another Story Artist Statement

For my project I want to dive into the topics of colonialism, power, and corruption and how these issues relate to the current state of Nigeria. Nigeria’s history is rich, yet dark. Being that music is also such a driving factor within any culture, I felt that it would be best to express this through a series of large paintings that incorporate elements from Nigerian musicians that have impacted the masses through their knowledge on these topics. One of the paintings is 36 x 48 in. and is based on Burna Boy’s “Another Story” music video. This piece will be one of a series of three paintings. There are a few scenes throughout the video where there are students sitting in a classroom with black cloths wrapped around their faces. Each cloth has a different word pertaining to a socioeconomic issue on it. This scene stood out to me and I decided to take three of the faces and include those in my painting. Below the floating heads are the many small homes and buildings in a village called Agbada Owo in Nigeria. The village appears to be tranquil, but one can see that it’s also ablaze in the far mountains. In the sky there’s a road running past the closest two heads. On this road is a presidential vehicle. This represents the fact that politicians are able to travel by air, while the average Nigerian would have to walk, or take the public transportation to get around