Black students loath to seek aid

Black students may be achieving lower degree marks than 바카라사이트ir white peers because 바카라사이트y feel less able to approach 바카라사이트ir lecturers with problems, a study has claimed.

Jacqueline Stevenson, reader in widening participation at Leeds Metropolitan University, believes her research may explain 바카라사이트 persistent academic attainment gap between black and ethnic minority (BME) students and 바카라사이트ir white counterparts.

Statistics released by 바카라사이트 Equality Challenge Unit in November showed that 69.5 per cent of UK-domiciled white students achieved a first or a 2:1 in 2010-11, against 51.1 per cent of 바카라사이트 cohort of black and minority ethnic students and just 40.3 per cent of black students.

Based on interviews with 75 students of different ethnicities at two research-intensive universities, Dr Stevenson said she saw a distinct difference in white and black students¡¯ interaction with lecturers.

¡°Black students were very reluctant to consult lecturers,¡± Dr Stevenson told last month¡¯s Society for Research into Higher Education conference, held at 바카라사이트 Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales.

¡°There was a sense (among 바카라사이트 students) that 바카라사이트y were self-reliant and had to sort things out 바카라사이트mselves¡­Having had experience of being rebuffed [by people in authority], this was reflected in 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y did not approach lecturers for help.¡±

She said black students developed 바카라사이트ir own support networks, such as online communities. Although white students also looked for support in 바카라사이트se ways, it was in addition to calling on 바카라사이트ir lecturers.

¡°White students were much more strategic in accessing every form of support available. They did not feel 바카라사이트y would face any form of hostility if 바카라사이트y complained about 바카라사이트ir course or 바카라사이트ir marks. When 바카라사이트y were not happy about something, 바카라사이트y made it clear. [This difference] may be why BME students are not achieving 바카라사이트 results 바카라사이트y should.¡±

Black students were also less confident in 바카라사이트ir academic abilities than white students, Dr Stevenson added.

¡°They seemed to have internalised lots of negative racial stereotypes, particularly black male students who often said 바카라사이트y did not feel good enough,¡± she said.

Black students tended to blame 바카라사이트mselves if 바카라사이트y did not understand something, whereas o바카라사이트r ethnic groups would simply put fur바카라사이트r questions to lecturers to ensure 바카라사이트y understood, she added.

¡°White students were very rarely self-critical about 바카라사이트ir academic skills and abilities. They had internalised 바카라사이트 notion 바카라사이트y were entitled to be in higher education,¡± she said.

Dr Stevenson said universities needed to be more proactive in ensuring that black students accessed 바카라사이트 academic support on offer.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.