Let's Get Down to Business: Black Students' Experiences at a Business College

Abstract

This study aimed to add to existing literature on college campus climates and the experiences of Black students on those campuses. Unique to this study, adding to the very little extant literature, was the focus on Black students at a public business college located in the United States’ Southwest. Using Critical Race Theory, White Institutional Presence, and antiblackness as lenses, I interviewed ten participants who identify as either Black or African American to learn about their experiences specific to a business college. While results indicate a lack of belonging and commonly shared recognition of the lack of both Students and Faculty of Color, many found support in international students who share many of the same experience of being different from White students. Contrary to existing research was the common occurrence of racial incidents between students, as opposed to faculty members. Future research should explore this finding to determine if it is unique to this particular institution or to business colleges in general. Chapter Five offers several possible avenues for business colleges to increase the effectiveness of their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts so they result in change which matters to historically marginalized Students of Color.