Abstract
This article examines the challenges and opportunities of minority recruitment and retention in higher education, with a focus on theatre programs at predominantly white institutions. It highlights national trends of declining minority enrollment and the pressures placed on colleges to meet desegregation goals, which sometimes create tension with historically Black institutions. Traditional recruitment strategies, often shaped by white middle-class assumptions, are critiqued as ineffective in reaching new pools of talent. A pilot summer theatre workshop at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is described as a model for community-based recruitment, emphasizing partnerships with Black organizations, personal outreach, and visible institutional support. Results included increased minority enrollment and broader community engagement. The article also stresses that retention requires long-term commitment, early academic success, strong faculty involvement, and the creation of supportive environments where students can find belonging and confidence.
Recommended Citation
Behringer, Fred
(1988)
"Minority Recruitment for Performance Programs,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 63, Article 11.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol63/iss1/11
