Student-Faculty Interactions, University Environment, and Academic Attitudes Among Black College Students: The Role of School Racial Composition

ABSTRACT This study examined student-faculty interactions and university environment as predictors of devaluing academic success and the intention to persist among a sample of Black college students attending historically and/or predominantly White institutions (H/PWIs) and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Results indicated the hypothesized model fit the data reasonably well across schools. However, notable differences were found. The paths from respectful student-faculty interactions and university environment to devaluing academic success were significant for students attending HBCUs but not H/PWIs. Additionally, university environment was a significant mediator of devaluing academic success for HBCUs but not H/PWIs. Findings suggest that the university environment and student-faculty interactions play a more important role in the academic attitudes of Black students attending HBCUs than H/PWIs.