The retention quagmire: Successful retention of African American faculty in a Predominantly White Institution of higher education

This study examined the perceptions that African American faculty members have about the institutional environment of a Predominantly White Institution of higher education (PWI) which led to a higher retention rate of African American faculty members than that reported in other PWIs. This study described the retention policies and practices of that PWI. This study, consistent with its purpose, also led to the creation of a profile of the African American faculty members at the PWI of this study. The PWI of this study was initially a small private academy but had since grown into a major public university that offered a wealth of educational resources. The main campus of the subject PWI offered a small-town college atmosphere that provided easy access to two major metropolitan cities. African American faculty members who participated in this study reported on employment impacting factors such as commitment, racial and ethnic relations, academic preparation, and the labor pool. Findings from this study indicated that most African American faculty members worked towards achieving personal goals. African American faculty members also expected to be treated just as other faculty members. African American faculty members at the PWI of this study believed they held positions that offered them the potential to achieve tenure and promotion. The findings of this study differ from findings for African American faculty retention reported in the literature. For example, African American faculty at this PWI indicated that factors such as campus isolation and social situations had little or no impact on their retention. African American faculty members at the subject PWI were focused on opportunities to achieve tenure, to present at conferences and to perform research.