DIFFERENCES IN BLACK ENROLLMENT RATES AND DEGREE ATTAINMENT IN HEALTH- RELATED STUDIES AT TEXAS HEALTH-RELATED INSTITUTIONS
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Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine Black students access and success in health-related degrees by examining enrollment a graduation rates in the Fall of 2016 and the Fall of 2019. Archival data were obtained from THECN consisting of the number of Black students enrolled and number of degrees awarded in health-related degrees at Texas health-related institutions for each year beginning in 2017 through 2019. The health-related degrees for which data were available included certificate, undergraduate, masters, doctoral, medical and dental.
Methods
For this study, a non-experimental, casual-comparative, quantitative research design, paired-samples t-test was used to investigate Black student access and success in health-related degrees at Texas health-related institutions in the fall of 2016 and the fall of 2019. Archived data obtained from the Texas Higher Education Accountability System for the nine designated health-related institutions were used to analyze two research questions. Findings
A statistically significant increase was present in the total number of Black students enrolled in health-related degrees at Texas health-related institutions in the fall of 2017 and the fall of 2019. However, for the differences in the numbers of Black students enrolled in undergraduate, master, and doctoral degrees in the fall of 2016 and 2019 there was not a statistical significance found. Additionally, there was no statistical significance found in the total number of degrees awarded to Black students enrolled in health-related degrees at Texas health-related institutions in the Fiscal Year 2017 and the Fiscal Year 2019. Finally, there was no statistical significance found in the difference in the number of undergraduate, master, or doctoral degrees awarded to Black students in health-related degrees at Texas health-related institutions in the Fiscal Year 2017 and the Fiscal Year 2019. Results were consistent with the literature in that Black students are underrepresented in the health professions. Although, Black enrollment and degree attainment are increasing in general, the increases are small and more needs to be done about increasing these numbers to meet the goals of the Texas 60x30.