Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Roundtable
Session Title
Roundtable: Supporting Appalachian Male Students at Berea College
Session Abstract or Summary
Much has been made of the lower graduation rates of males in four year colleges. At Berea College we have also found this to be true, with fewer than half of African American males and males from distressed Appalachian counties both graduating in six year, almost 18% lower than the average graduation rate for the College. In Spring 2013, a team assembled to investigate these students experience on campus and the hurdles they faced. After doing so, the African American and Appalachian Male retention teams explored ways to assist the students in succeeding on campus as well as how to change aspect of campus culture. This roundtable brings together seven people involved in enacting the first stage of the Appalachian Male Initiative where 30 freshmen students from at-risk and distressed counties took a class in Appalachian Cultures that also focused on their experience on campus, both exploring and affirming their identities and exploring conflicts such as the limiting of self-direction they once had, conflicts over politics and religion, and issues such as white privilege. The round table consists of Chris Green, director of the Appalachian Center, who undertook the research and is leading the project; Bobby Starnes, the professor teaching the Appalachian Cultures class; two students form the class (not yet identified); Bob Warren, a college forester working with the class; and Jordan Hutchins, a VISTA who is working with Chris Green to support the class, conduct further research, and to secure a base of mentoring support on campus
Presentation #1 Title
Who are Appalachian Males and What our Research Showed Us
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Chris Green will be giving this talk to start the roundtable. Much has been made of the lower graduation rates of males in four year colleges. At Berea College we have also found this to be true, with fewer than half of African American males and males from distressed Appalachian counties both graduating in six year, almost 18% lower than the average graduation rate for the College. In Spring 2013, a team assembled to investigate these students experience on campus and the hurdles they faced. After doing so, the African American and Appalachian Male retention teams explored ways to assist the students in succeeding on campus as well as how to change aspect of campus culture. This roundtable brings together seven people involved in enacting the first stage of the Appalachian Male Initiative where 30 freshmen students from at-risk and distressed counties took a class in Appalachian Cultures that also focused on their experience on campus, both exploring and affirming their identities and exploring conflicts such as the limiting of self-direction they once had, conflicts over politics and religion, and issues such as white privilege.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Chris Green is the Director of the Loyal Jones Appalcahian Center and has recently served as president and conference chair for the Appalachian Studies Association.
Presentation #2 Title
Working Together in the Classroom
Presentation #2 Abstract or Summary
Bobby Starnes will share her experience in shaping the class adn working with the students to help them gain a sense of their own identities, agency, belonging, and cross-cultural communicatoin on campus.
Much has been made of the lower graduation rates of males in four year colleges. At Berea College we have also found this to be true, with fewer than half of African American males and males from distressed Appalachian counties both graduating in six year, almost 18% lower than the average graduation rate for the College. In Spring 2013, a team assembled to investigate these students experience on campus and the hurdles they faced. After doing so, the African American and Appalachian Male retention teams explored ways to assist the students in succeeding on campus as well as how to change aspect of campus culture. This roundtable brings together seven people involved in enacting the first stage of the Appalachian Male Initiative where 30 freshmen students from at-risk and distressed counties took a class in Appalachian Cultures that also focused on their experience on campus, both exploring and affirming their identities and exploring conflicts such as the limiting of self-direction they once had, conflicts over politics and religion, and issues such as white privilege.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Bobby Starnes, professor in Appalachian and general studies at Berea College and former president of Foxfire, spent most of her young life in Ohio but was born in Knott County, Ky, that she always considered home. Her career has been dedicated to empowering students as agents and thinkers.
Presentation #3 Title
Felling Trees and Making a Buildings the Old Fashioned Way
Presentation #3 Abstract or Summary
Bob Warren will talk about his work with these students in the college forest, where he taught them how to find trees ready to harvest (i.e., near the end of their life cycle or that had been damaged), how to work with horses to move logs, how to harvest the timber, and how to design and build a hand made structure.
Much has been made of the lower graduation rates of males in four year colleges. At Berea College we have also found this to be true, with fewer than half of African American males and males from distressed Appalachian counties both graduating in six year, almost 18% lower than the average graduation rate for the College. In Spring 2013, a team assembled to investigate these students experience on campus and the hurdles they faced. After doing so, the African American and Appalachian Male retention teams explored ways to assist the students in succeeding on campus as well as how to change aspect of campus culture. This roundtable brings together seven people involved in enacting the first stage of the Appalachian Male Initiative where 30 freshmen students from at-risk and distressed counties took a class in Appalachian Cultures that also focused on their experience on campus, both exploring and affirming their identities and exploring conflicts such as the limiting of self-direction they once had, conflicts over politics and religion, and issues such as white privilege.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Bob Warren serves as a Forestry Technician, part of a team of three people who tend Berea College's 8,000 acre forest. Having homesteaded in Montana, Bob is glad to be close to the land.
Presentation #4 Title
The Making of Mentors and Support Structures
Presentation #4 Abstract or Summary
Jordan Hutchins will discuss the curent structure of the support system for these students at Berea and will share his experience in making that come about.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #4
Jordan Hutchins is serving as the VISTA Student Mentor Outreach Coordinator for the Loyal Jones Appalchian Center. He grew up in the moutnains of North Carolina and graduated Berea College in 2014 with a degree in Communications.
Much has been made of the lower graduation rates of males in four year colleges. At Berea College we have also found this to be true, with fewer than half of African American males and males from distressed Appalachian counties both graduating in six year, almost 18% lower than the average graduation rate for the College. In Spring 2013, a team assembled to investigate these students experience on campus and the hurdles they faced. After doing so, the African American and Appalachian Male retention teams explored ways to assist the students in succeeding on campus as well as how to change aspect of campus culture. This roundtable brings together seven people involved in enacting the first stage of the Appalachian Male Initiative where 30 freshmen students from at-risk and distressed counties took a class in Appalachian Cultures that also focused on their experience on campus, both exploring and affirming their identities and exploring conflicts such as the limiting of self-direction they once had, conflicts over politics and religion, and issues such as white privilege.
Who are Appalachian Males and What our Research Showed Us
Chris Green will be giving this talk to start the roundtable. Much has been made of the lower graduation rates of males in four year colleges. At Berea College we have also found this to be true, with fewer than half of African American males and males from distressed Appalachian counties both graduating in six year, almost 18% lower than the average graduation rate for the College. In Spring 2013, a team assembled to investigate these students experience on campus and the hurdles they faced. After doing so, the African American and Appalachian Male retention teams explored ways to assist the students in succeeding on campus as well as how to change aspect of campus culture. This roundtable brings together seven people involved in enacting the first stage of the Appalachian Male Initiative where 30 freshmen students from at-risk and distressed counties took a class in Appalachian Cultures that also focused on their experience on campus, both exploring and affirming their identities and exploring conflicts such as the limiting of self-direction they once had, conflicts over politics and religion, and issues such as white privilege.
