Despite reporting greater needs for career planning information, African American students are often less likely to use the services available to them. Understanding the factors influencing the career development of African American students is therefore critical if these students are to succeed both academically and in theworld ofwork. This study explores the career influences of 13 African American college students in an attempt to gain knowledge about suggestions for improving career services for minorities at a large Midwestern university. Results also show that African American students would like to see more outreach, more peer guidance, and more visible and available career mentors. Results underscore the significance of mentors for African American students. Implications point to ways to strengthen career services for minority students in hopes that African American students will start to increase their use of these services.
Bogden, R. C., & Bilken, S. K. (1998). Qualitative research for education: An introduction to theory and methods. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
2.
Chatters, L. M., & Taylor, R. J. (1994). Religious involvement among older African Americans. In J. S. Levin (Ed.), Religion in aging and health(pp. 196-230). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
3.
Cheatham, H. E. (1990). Africentricity and career development. Career Development Quarterly, 38, 334-346.
4.
Felsman, D. E., & Blustein, D. L. (1999). The role of peer relatedness in late adolescent career development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 54, 279-295.
5.
Fisher, T. A., & Padmawidjaja, I. (1999). Parental influences on career development perceived by African American and Mexican American college students. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 27(3), 136-152.
6.
Gloria, A. M., Robinson Kurpius, S. E., Hamilton, K. D., & Willson, M. S. (1999). African American students' persistence at a predominantly white university: Influences of social support, university comfort and self-beliefs. Journal of College Student Development, 40, 257-268.
7.
Hays, K. A., Falconer, J. W., Hawkins, A. K., Boudreaux, C. T., Flot, R. A., & Dyszelski, C. (2004). Listening to other voices. Manuscript in preparation.
8.
Krueger, R. A. (1998). Moderating focus groups. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
9.
Morgan, D. L. (1988). Planning focus groups: Focus Group Kit 2. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
10.
Morse, J., & Field, P. A. (1996). Nursing research: The application of qualitative approaches (2nd ed.). London: Chapman & Hall.
11.
Musick, M. A. (1996). Religion and subjective health among black and white elders. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 37, 221-237.
12.
Nicholson, K., Evans, J. F., Tellier-Robinson, D., & Aviles, L. (2001). Allowing the voices of parents to help shape teaching and learning. The Educational Forum, 65(2), 176-185.
13.
Parham, T. A., & Austin, N. L. (1994). Career development and African Americans: A contextual reappraisal using the nigrescence construct. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 44, 139-154.
14.
Pearson, S. M., & Bieschke, K. J. (2001). Qualitative explorations in career development succeeding against the odds: An examination of familial influences on the career development of professional African Americanwomen. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 48, 301-310.
15.
Redmond, S. P. (1990). Mentoring and cultural diversity in academic settings. American Behavioral Scientist, 34, 188-200.
16.
Shandley, T. C. (1989). The use of mentors for leadership development. National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Journal, 27, 59-66.
17.
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
18.
Stuart, R. B. (2004). Twelve practical suggestions for achieving multicultural competence. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 35, 3-9.
19.
Taylor, C. T., Hinton, I. D., & Wilson, M. N. (1995). Parental influences on academic performance in African American students. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 4, 293-302.
20.
Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., Jayakody, R., & Levin, J. S. (1996). Black and White differences in religious participation: A multi-sample comparison. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 35, 403-410.
21.
Tracey, T., & Sedlacek, W. (1985). The relationship of noncognitive variables to academic success: Alongitudinal comparison by race. Journal of College Student Personnel, 26, 405-410.
22.
Wasonga, T., & Christman, D. E. (2003). Perceptions and construction of meaning of urban high school experiences among African American university students. Education and Urban Society, 35, 181-201.
23.
Wilson-Sadberry, K., Winfield, L. E., & Royster, D. A. (1991). Resilience and persistence of African American males in postsecondary enrollment. Education and Urban Society, 24, 87-101.
24.
Zey, M. G. (1984). The mentoring connection. Homewood, IL: Dow Jones-Irwin.
