Black Student Participation Rates Also a Concern for Educational Program Assessments.

Abstract

Lower participation rates in the African-American population are not limited to medical research. Extant research reveals African-American students also participate at lower rates than other racial groups on college and university surveys. Students in medical and health professions programs are routinely surveyed to investigate students' perspectives about the educational curriculum, social and cultural environment, quality of faculty and resources, etc. The results attained from these assessments often carry some of the greatest weight in guiding educational curricula, programs, and policy. Thus, perhaps nowhere is there greater opportunity for African-American students to effect change than educational program assessments, where results will affect not only current and future students, but may also help improve professional development opportunities to address health disparities among minority populations. Implications and recommendations for faculty, administrators, and students in medical and health training programs are discussed.