University of Pittsburgh and Under- Represented Minority Students

In an effort to more fully understand those factors that influence academic success for under-represented minority students who attend the University of Pittsburgh, the Enrollment Management Committee asked CEAC to conduct a series of surveys and focus groups of UR minority students. The evaluation explored the perceptions and experiences of students that had varying degrees of affiliation with five membership organizations dedicated to effectively serving and meeting the needs of URM students.  The goal of the evaluation was to better understand methods of achieving a sustainable model for a more equitable campus experience by identifying and maximizing the potential capacity across the organizations to improve satisfaction and retention rates of URM students.  In order to mitigate challenges to the evaluation, evaluators relied on integrating systems thinking throughout all facets of the process and developed a strong partnership with campus administrators. 

Click here to view the final presentation