Perceptions of Career Advancement Factors Held by Black Student Affairs Administrators

This study examined the impact of gender, institutional characteristics, years of professional experience in higher education, and highest earned degree on perceptions of career advancement factors held by midlevel Black female and male student affairs administrators. Midlevel Black female student affairs administrators were more likely than their Black male counterparts to perceive disparities related to career advancement factors. They perceived elevated professional standards, gender discrimination, underutilization of their skills, and negative societal attitudes regarding Black women. Although women were more likely to perceive disparities in career advancement factors, women at medium institutions were less likely than men at medium institutions to perceive that they are subjected to negative societal attitudes about Black people of their gender group. When gender was removed from the analysis, all administrators at medium institutions were more likely than their counterparts at small institutions to perceive that they are included in decision-making processes. Additional findings beyond the scope of the original research questions indicate that years of experience and highest earned degree also impact the career advancement perceptions held by all of the participants in this study. The sample population for this study were members of College Student Educators International (ACPA), the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals (NASAP), and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). Data was collected using an electronic version of the "Perceptions of Career Advancement Survey" adapted from Coleman's (2002) "African American Student Affairs Administrator Survey".