Supporting HBCU Students' Academic Identity Development: Understanding the Experiences
of First Year Students Engaged in Freshmen Learning Communities
2:45-3:35 p.m.
Location: Warhol B
Type: Informative/panel Interactive
Audience: Linked Courses
Presenters: Tiffany Pogue, Albany State University
The contributions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been
well documented (Gasman & Nguyen, 2014; Irvine & Fenwick, 2011; Perna et al., 2009;
Reddick, 2006). While we know much of what these institutions contribute to the US
workforce, economy, and knowledge base, less attention has been given to how these
institutions operate. We also know that to promote student success, we must surround
students with an environment of activities and opportunities to stimulate engagement
(Li et al., 2020). University College (UC) and its learning communities at Albany
State University were created to encourage student engagement and academic success.
Our primary desired outcome is to contribute to students' successes through co-curricular
activities designed by our learning community instructors and faculty (University
College, 2022). This presentation will present findings from a year-long study to
explore the experiences of UC students in these communities and their impact on their
academic identities.
