Minority Student Academy Receives $20,500 Grant

A-B Tech Community College’s Minority Student Leadership Academy recently received a grant from the NC Community College System Office of $20,500 to provide mentoring and coaching services to minority males. A-B Tech started its Minority Male Mentoring Program five years ago to address low retention and graduation rates of minority male students. The Academy is currently operating through funding from the Community College System Office and a Sisters of Mercy grant.

Dr. Joseph Fox, Chair of the Business Administration Department, coordinates the Minority Student Leadership Academy, and Phyllis Utley, Minority Student Recruiter, is the lead academic coach. “Academic preparation workshops focus on topics such as note-taking skills, study and test-taking strategies, time management techniques, and identifying academic and college resources. Career development workshops focus on resumé-writing, job interviewing skills, and creating a career development plan,” Fox said.

The mentoring component seeks to match members with community volunteers working in similar fields that students have expressed an interest in for future employment. Mentors complete a short orientation and training program and are asked to schedule at least one monthly face-to-face meeting with the mentee. The purpose of the mentoring program is to create a networking opportunity for the Minority Student Leadership Academy’s members with individuals currently working in various occupations throughout the Asheville area.

Mentors are asked to share their work-related experience with mentees, provide advice pertaining to gaining entry into the field, and to assist with business networking opportunities. “The coaching component of the Academy consists of working one-on-one with participants to review their academic progress, creating a graduation plan, and providing resources to assist with progress toward graduation. An academic coach is assigned to participants, and the coach monitors members’ progress,” Fox said.

A final component of the Academy is leadership development in which members participate in workshops related to establishing personal responsibility and accountability, establishing personal and professional goals, and attending leadership/motivational conferences and workshops.

Any student may join the Academy, but special emphasis is placed on the needs of minority students, diversity issues, and cultural awareness.

Retention rates among participants have continued to be high. Retention rates of male participants, Fall 2011 to Fall 2012: 82%. Retention rates of female participants, Fall 2011 to Fall 2012: 79%.

For more information about the program, contact Dr. Fox at [email protected] or Phyllis Utley at [email protected].