Lean on me: The support experiences of black graduates students

The support experiences of Black graduate students who graduated from a major southern research university between 1962 to 2003 were examined in a comprehensive survey that explored three areas: (a) relationships with faculty, (b) students, and (c) the institution. Characteristics that distinguish this study from others include the large sample 586 participants across a four-decade period and the combination of closed and qpen-ended questions. The Black graduate students' primary sources of support were Black professors and other Black graduate students. The students collectively told stories of isolation, exclusion, and survival. Overall, the study revealed that Black graduate students believed that their support experiences were significantly different ftom those of White graduate students and that White graduate students experienced a much friendlier campus and a more positive classroom environment.