Esta dissertação está inserida no contexto da temática da internacionalização da Educação Superior e das implicações de tal movimento no âmbito dos Programas de Pós-Graduação, mais especificamente, os que têm como foco o Desenvolvimento Regional. Assim sendo, tem por objetivo analisar as relações existentes entre as estratégias e as ações de internacionalização realizadas pelos Programas de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento Regional e possíveis intersecções com as políticas de Ciência e Tecnologia no contexto brasileiro. Para tanto, buscou-se um embasamento teórico com autores que pudessem trazer subsídios históricos e atuais acerca do tema, assim como dados e informações em órgãos e instituições relevantes e com força política, nos cenários nacional e internacional. Desta forma, evidenciaram-se intenções, contradições e assimetrias a partir de uma abordagem ampliada e de concepções de estudiosos do assunto, através de um panorama histórico que se segue até uma realidade constituída de tensões, especialmente em relação à forma competitiva como o tema tem sido tratado globalmente, bem como, diante das incertezas e equívocos políticos percebidos no âmbito nacional. Ainda que o tema internacionalização da Educação Superior não seja novo, o fato é que em meio aos movimentos contemporâneos neste sentido, a mesma intensificou-se a ponto de adquirir status de estratégia e urgência. Diante de tal perspectiva, a pesquisa está alicerçada na concepção de que a problemática em questão está no bojo das discussões inerentes ao campo Ciência, Tecnologia e Sociedade (CTS), bem como, busca estabelecer possíveis diálogos com as Políticas de Ciência e Tecnologia (PCT). Em termos de abordagem, o estudo orienta-se a partir do diálogo de saberes e da interdisciplinaridade como precauções teórico-metodológicas. O método utilizado foi a Análise de Conteúdo, a partir da análise documental, considerando dados secundários e entrevistas semi-estruturadas com coordenadores de Cursos e sujeitos qualificados por eles indicados. As percepções obtidas dão conta de que em relação às parcerias internacionais, os programas estudados estão buscando estratégias próprias, principalmente através de seus docentes e respectivos contatos no exterior. Por sua vez, percebe-se que os programas se ressentem de um maior apoio por parte das PCT’s, mais especificamente, as atribuídas à Capes e à própria Área PLURD. Neste sentido, a avaliação e os recursos parecem estar tendo um papel inverso ao que deveriam ter, tornando-se elementos de pressão e restrição, aos invés de incentivo e apoio. Some-se a isso, o contexto regionalizado dos programas pesquisados, estabelecido dentro de uma relação local - global, que acaba por acentuar ainda mais as dificuldades frente aos desafios da internacionalização. Neste cenário, as ações e estratégias de internacionalização dos programas pesquisados se mostram ainda incipientes, embora haja interesse nesta, enquanto as implicações das PCT’s, neste sentido, não têm tido o papel protagonista que se esperava. A temática da internacionalização nos programas investigados se apresenta, portanto, num cenário de tensões, onde o interesse, as estratégias e ações locais estão presentes, ainda que incipientes. Porém, permeados por limitações e dificuldades impostas pelas suas posições periféricas, pela fragilidade das políticas e escassez de recursos. / This dissertation is inserted in the context of the theme of the internationalization of Higher Education and the implications of such movement in the scope of Postgraduate Programs, more specifically those that focus on Regional Development. Therefore, it aims to analyze the existing relationships between the strategies and internationalization actions carried out by the Graduate Programs in Regional Development and possible intersections with Science and Technology policies in the Brazilian context. To do so, it was sought a theoretical basis with authors who could bring historical and current subsidies on the subject, as well as data and information in relevant organs and institutions with political force, in the national and international dimensions. In this way, it was sought to show intentions, contradictions and asymmetries from an extended approach and conceptions of scholars of the subject, through a historical panorama that follows until a reality constituted of tensions, especially in relation to the competitive form as the subject has been treated globally, as well as, faced with the perceived political uncertainties and equivocations at the national level. Although the theme of internationalization of Higher Education is not new, the fact is that among the contemporary movements in this sense, the same has intensified to the point of acquiring strategic and urgent status. Faced with such a perspective, the research is based on the conception that the problem in question is in the heart of the discussions inherent to the CTS field - Science, Technology and Society, as well as seeking to establish possible dialogues with the Science and Technology Policies (PCT). In terms of approach, the study is based on the dialogue of knowledge and interdisciplinarity as theoretical and methodological precautions. The method used was the Content Analysis, based on documentary analysis, secondary data and semi-structured interviews with coordinators of Courses and qualified subjects indicated by them. The perceptions obtained show that in relation to international partnerships, the programs studied are pursuing their own strategies, mainly through their teachers and their contacts abroad. In turn, it is clear that the programs resent greater support from PCTs , more specifically those assigned to CAPES and to the PLURD Area itself. In this sense, evaluation and resources seem to be playing a reverse role to what they should have, that is, they have become elements of pressure and restraint, rather than encouragement and support. Added to this is the regionalized context of the programs surveyed, established within a local-global relationship, which further accentuates the difficulties faced by the obstacles of internationalization. In this scenario, the actions and strategies of internationalization of the researched programs are still incipient, although there is interest in this, while the implications of PCTs in this sense, have not had the leading role that was expected. Therefore, the theme of internationalization in the programs investigated presents itself in a scenario of tensions where local interest, strategies and actions are present, even if they are incipient. However, permeated by limitations and difficulties imposed by their peripheral positions, by the fragility of policies and scarce resources.

Esta dissertação objetiva discutir e mapear o volume de produção científica de docentes em dois programas de pós-graduação do Campus Curitiba da Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, a partir de três elementos: representatividade de homens e mulheres docentes em cada programa, volume de orientações e coorientações produzidas em um espaço temporal de catorze anos e o volume de publicações produzidas entre docentes homens e mulheres de cada programa nos últimos cinco anos. A problematização destes dados e informações levantados teve como fundamentos perspectivas de gênero, ciência e tecnologia, o que permitiu a comparação entre os programas selecionados para a pesquisa. É importante destacar que a natureza primeira desta pesquisa é quantitativa e interpretativa. Destaca-se também que as bases de dados oficiais (Plataforma Sucupira, Portais Capes, Plataforma Lattes e sítios dos programas), assim como a info/bibliometria, fizeram parte da composição dos aspectos quantitativos da pesquisa. Observou-se que em inúmeros casos, a produtividade das docentes mulheres foi superior com relação aos docentes homens, contrariando estudos que apontam que os homens produzem mais que as mulheres. Estas informações só foram obtidas quando foram consideradas médias de orientações/publicações de docentes por sexo, em detrimento apenas de análise dos números absolutos dispostos nas bases oficiais. Espera-se que a pesquisa motive ações institucionais para a desconstrução de possíveis estereótipos de gênero/sexo, assim como o fomento de pesquisas futuras sobre as relações de gênero, visibilidade da produção de docentes mulheres e as instituições acadêmicas, já que esta temática não é estanque. / This dissertation aims to discuss and map the volume of scientific production of teachers in two post-graduate programs in the Campus of Curitiba at the Technological Federal University of Paraná, from three elements: representation of men and women teachers in each program, volume of orientations and co-orientation produced in a timeline of fourteen years and the volume of publications produced between men and women teachers of each program in the last five years. The questioning of these raised data and information had as grounds gender perspective, science and technology, which allowed the comparison of the programs selected for the survey. It is important to highlight that the first category of this research is quantitative and interpretive. It is also pointed out that the databases (Sucupira Platform, Capes Portals, Lattes Platform and sites of programs), as well as the info/bibliometrics, took part in the composition of the quantitative aspects of the research. It was observed that in many cases, the productivity of women teachers was higher in relation to men teachers, and this information could only be obtained when the average of orientations/publications of teachers by sex was considered, rather than just absolute numbers of analyses shown in official bases. It is expected that the survey will motivate institutional actions for the deconstruction of gender/sex stereotypes, as well as the promotion of future research on gender relations, visibility of production of women teachers and the academic institutions, since this issue is not imperious.

A presente dissertação tem como objetivo construir um modelo singular de avaliação de desempenho para atender a Diretoria de pesquisa e pós-graduação da Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Câmpus de Pato Branco, utilizando a visão da MCDA-C –Metodologia Multicritério de Apoio à Decisão Construtivista, levando-se em consideração as percepções do decisor por meio dessa metodologia.A pesquisa caracteriza-se como exploratória, descritiva e quali-quantitativa. Os instrumentos utilizados para a coleta e análise dos dados são: Knowledge Development Process- Constructivist (Proknow-C) e metodologia MCDA-C. Em relação ao Proknow-C, esse processo permitiu selecionar 15 artigos internacionais e 15 artigos nacionais alinhados ao tema, tendo como principais resultados: (i) a análise bibliométrica permitiu identificar os principais autores, artigos e periódicos; (ii) a análise sistêmica permitiu chegar aos seguintes resultados: a) os modelos de avaliação de desempenho propostos e/ou aplicados nas pesquisas não demonstram preocupação em desenvolver um modelo singular, específico para o contexto que lhe deu origem, ou o que é importante medir segundo os valores do decisor; b) verificou-se que a maioria dos modelos realiza a mensuração, porém, não realiza a integração dos critérios; c) a maioria dos modelos permitiram diagnosticar os pontos fortes e fracos dos contextos avaliados; d) os modelos demonstraram preocupação em propor ações para gerar ações de aperfeiçoamento, destacando-se o portfólio internacional. Por meio da MCDA-C foram obtidos os seguintes resultados: (i) identificação de 64 elementos primários de avaliação (EPAs)os quais foram explorados e discutidos originando 89 conceitos orientados à ação; (ii) constatação de duas grandes dimensões de preocupação do decisor - qualidade e gestão, sendo que a primeira grande área está relacionada à pesquisa e pós-graduação stricto sensu, aos grupos de pesquisa e à pós-graduação lato sensu; e a segunda está relacionada à imagem e aos processos internos; (iii) criação de 5 mapas de relações meios e fins, nos quais, conforme as dimensões identificadas,as preocupações operacionais (conceitos meios) e as preocupações estratégicas (conceitos fins)foram alocadas; (iv)formulação de 51 indicadores de desempenho com a participação integral do decisor; (v) construção dos descritores por meio de escalas ordinais e forma determinados os níveis de referência para cada indicador; (vi) transformação das ordinais em escalas cardinais (quantitativas); (vii) realização da análise de independência; (viii) construção das funções de valor; e (ix) determinação das taxas de substituição.Concluise a partir da filiação teórica adotada, que a estruturação do modelo de avaliação de desempenho proposto será útil para dar apoio à gestão da diretoria de pesquisa e pós-graduação da UTFPR, Câmpus de Pato Branco, bem comoo cotejamento dos indicadores da literatura com o modelo desenvolvido contribui teoricamente para a literatura. / The present work aims to build a unique model of performance evaluation to meet the Research and Graduate Directorate of the Federal Technological University of Paraná, Pato Branco Câmpus, using the MCDA-C vision - Multicriteria Decision Support Methodology Constructivist, taking into account the perceptions of the decision maker through this methodology. The research is characterized as exploratory, descriptive and qualitativequantitative. The instruments used for data collection and analysis are: Knowledge Development Process- Constructivist (Proknow-C) and MCDA-C methodology.In relation to Proknow-C, this process allowed the selection of 15 international articles and 15 national articles aligned to the theme, with the following main results: (i) bibliometric analysis allowed to identify the main authors, articles and periodicals; (ii) the systemic analysis allowed the following results to be obtained: a) the performance evaluation models proposed and/or applied in the researches do not show concern in developing a singular model, specific to the context that gave rise to it, or what is important Measure according to the values of the decision maker; b) it was verified that most of the models carry out the measurement, however, it does not integrate the criteria; c) most of the models allowed to diagnose the strengths and weaknesses of the contexts evaluated; d) the models showed concern in proposing actions to generate improvement actions, highlighting the international portfolio.The following results were obtained through MCDA-C: (i) identification of 64 primary evaluation elements (EPAs) which were explored and discussed, giving rise to 89 action-oriented concepts; (ii) finding two major dimensions of decision-maker concern - quality and management, the first large area of which is related to the research and graduate studies stricto sensu, to the research groups and to the lato sensu graduate studies; And the second is related to the image and internal processes; (iii) creation of 5 maps of means and ends relationships, in which, according to the identified dimensions, operational concerns (means concepts) and strategic concerns (concepts ends) were allocated; (iv) formulation of 51 performance indicators with the full participation of the decision maker; (v) construction of the descriptors by means of ordinal scales and form the reference levels for each indicator; (vi) transformation of ordinals into cardinal (quantitative) scales; (vii) conducting the independence analysis; (viii) construction of value functions; and (ix) determination of replacement rates. It is concluded from the theoretical affiliation adopted that the structuring of the proposed performance evaluation model will be useful to support the management of the UTFPR research and graduate board, Câmpus de Pato Branco, as well as the comparison of the indicators of the Literature with the developed model contributes theoretically to the literature.

Orientador: Mara Regina Lemes De Sordi / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T08:50:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_MargaridaMontejanoda_D.pdf: 3616730 bytes, checksum: df2f44937c38c2bbe11b529a762e703e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Este estudo tem por objetivo compreender como os sujeitos, formadores de professores, entendem e praticam a organização do trabalho pedagógico (OTP) em Cursos de Pedagogia e o quanto este entendimento interfere na formação de novos docentes. Diante disso, propõe uma compreensão da realidade a partir da verificação de três cursos de Pedagogia, nos quais busca identificar a lógica dos projetos pedagógicos e as contradições presentes nos espaços de formação de professores. A abordagem da pesquisa é qualitativa e os recursos utilizados foram: a observação em sala de aula, entrevistas, questionários e analise do projeto político pedagógico (PPP). A partir dos dados coletados, algumas categorias de análise surgiram, destacando-se a Práxis Pedagógica; o Trabalho Coletivo; o Projeto Pedagógico e a Organização do Trabalho Pedagógico. Por meio dessas categorias constatou-se que nem tudo que está dito nos PPP ocorre de fato e nem tudo que ocorre na realidade dos cursos está explicitado nos mesmos; que o discurso dos sujeitos apresenta um distanciamento da prática; que há uma confusão conceitual sobre trabalho coletivo e alguns equívocos na compreensão de OTP e que, apesar das dificuldades apresentadas pelos sujeitos na realidade prática, existe a intenção de realizar uma práxis transformadora, bem como a consciência dos limites que os cercam. Muito embora a avaliação não apareça de forma ostensiva nos PPP, ela se revela nos objetivos e nas ações dos sujeitos, se fazendo presente nos moldes estabelecidos pela Educação Tradicional. A realidade dos três cursos mostra que a compreensão da Organização do Trabalho Pedagógico exige um entendimento do trabalho enquanto emancipador do homem, do conhecimento enquanto libertador deste homem e da educação enquanto caminho que possibilita a superação das contradições atuais, realçando, com isso, o papel imprescindível do Projeto Político-Pedagógico na construção de coletivos e na elaboração de um novo sentido às relações educacionais. Por fim, destaca o Curso de Pedagogia enquanto espaço legítimo para a teoria e prática da formação de professores e a construção de uma práxis transformadora da realidade / Abstract: The objective of the present study is to understand how individuals involved in the training of future teachers understand and practice the pedagogical work organization in education courses, and how such understanding interferes in the preparation of new teachers. Its proposal is to understand this reality based on the observation of three Education Courses, trying to identify the logic of the pedagogical projects and the contradictions present in education courses. It has a qualitative approach, based on classroom observation, interviews, questionnaires, and analysis of the political-pedagogical project (PPP). Some analysis criteria were defined, namely Pedagogical Praxis, Collective Work, Pedagogical Project, and Pedagogical Work Organization. Studying these categories, we came to the conclusion that not all that is stated in the PPP actually happens, and not all that happens is stated in the PPP; that the individuals discourse shows a gap between practice; and that there is a conceptual confusion between collective work and pedagogical work organization. Despite difficulties in the everyday practice, individuals show a sincere intention of performing a transformation practice, as well as an awareness of the limitations involved. Although evaluation is not a clear issue in the PPP, it is ever present in the objectives and practices of the individuals according to the patterns established by Traditional Education. Observation of the three courses showed that the understanding of Pedagogical Work Organization requires the comprehension that the objective of that work is the emancipation of human beings; that knowledge delivers the human being; and that education is the way to overcome the present contradictions, enhancing the fundamental role of the PPP in the elaboration of a new meaning for the educational relationships. Finally, it enhances the Education Course as the legitimate instance for theoretical and practical training of teachers-to-be and for the construction of a praxis capable of transforming the existing reality / Doutorado / Ensino, Avaliação e Formação de Professores / Doutor em Educação

The environment in which higher education institutions operate is changing, and these changes are impacting on all aspects of higher education, including postgraduate levels. Changes wrought by globalisation, heralded by rapid advances in technology have inaugurated a new era in which there are long term consequences for higher education. The shift towards more quantitative and measurable "outputs" signifies a fundamental change in the educational ethos in institutions. Effectiveness is now judged primarily on numbers of graduates and publications rather than on other aspects. The drive is to produce a highly educated population, especially through increasing postgraduates who can drive national innovation and improve national economies. This affects academics in a range of ways, not least in the ways in which they engage in teaching, what they are willing to do and how they do it. Such changes influence the kinds of research done, the structures and funding which support research, and thus naturally shapes the kinds of postgraduate programmes and teaching that occurs. This study, situated in the field of Higher Education Studies, adopting a critical realist stance and drawing on the social theory of Margaret Archer and the concepts of expert and novice, explores the experiences of postgraduate supervisors from one South African institution across a range of disciplines. Individual experiences at the level of the Empirical and embodied in practice at the level of the Actual allow for the identification of possible mechanisms at the level of the Real which structure the sector. The research design then allows for an exploration across mezzo, macro and micro levels. Individuals outline their own particular situations, identifying a number of elements which enabled or constrained them and how, in exercising their agency, they develop their strategies for supervision drawing on a range of different resources that they identify and that may be available to them. Student characteristics, discipline status and placement, funding, and the emergent policy environment are all identified as influencing their practice. In some instances supervisors recognise the broader influences on the system that involve them in their undertaking, noting the international trends. Through their narratives and the discourses they engage a number of contradictions that have developed in the system with growing neo-liberal trends and vocationalism highlighting tensions between academic freedom and autonomy, and demands for productivity, efficiency and compliance, and between an educational focus and a training bias in particular along with others. Especially notable is how this contributes to the current ideologies surrounding knowledge and knowledge production. Their individual interests and concerns, and emergent academic identities as they take shape over time, also modifies the process and how individual supervisors influence their own environments in agentic moves becomes apparent. Whilst often individuals highlight the lack of support especially in the early phases of supervision, the emergent policy-constrained environment is also seen as curtailing possibilities and especially in limiting the possibilities for the exercise of agency. Whilst the study has some limitations in the range and number of respondents nevertheless the data provided rich evidence of how individual supervisors are affected, and how they respond in varied conditions. What is highlighted through these experiences are ways pressures are increasing for both supervisors and students and changing how they engage. Concerns in particular are raised about the growing functional and instrumental nature of the process with an emphasis on the effects on the kinds of researchers being developed and the knowledge that is therefore being produced. As costs increase for academics through the environments developed and with the varied roles they take on so they become more selective and reluctant to expand the role. This research has provided insights into ideas, beliefs and values relating to the postgraduate sector and to the process of postgraduate supervision and how it occurs. This includes the structures and cultural conditions that enable or constrain practitioners as they develop in the role in this particular institution. It has explored some of the ways that mechanisms at international, national and institutional levels shape the role and practices of supervisors. The effects of mechanisms are in no way a given or simply understood. In this way the research may contribute to more emancipatory knowledge which could be used in planning and deciding on emergent policies and practices which might create a more supportive and creative postgraduate environment.

MA (Psychology) / Department of Psychology / See the attached abstract below

Interest in effectively publishing academic articles stems from involvement in statistical research support provided to academic researchers conducting their research. In the context of this study research output (RO) is defined as the publication of research findings (articles) in academic journals accredited with the South African Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET). The vantage point of this research is that of research support statisticians. New knowledge is continually required to drive decision making, policy formulation, industry, economies, regulation, development, innovation and progress (SESCES 2015:9; Pullinger 2014). Quality published research serves as a reliable source of new information. Therefore measures are globally and nationally implemented to stimulate article publication. Such measures and incentives include measurement of publication rate; journal impact ratings; government funding of research based on research output; acknowledgement as research-intensive institutions, promotion opportunities linked to publication rate and more. Although the literature reports on aspects of the production and publication of research findings, limited research is reported on research output productivity (ROP) viewed from the perspective of the statistical community that support research within the research process. Therefore a theoretical framework for ROP had to be developed. Classic grounded theory (GT) proved to be an appropriate methodology for this research based on its theory-develop properties. The literature, responses to an open- and closed-ended questionnaire, observational field notes of this researcher and informal discussion notes were inter alia used as data bases in the cycles of data-collection-analysis-and-comparison that characterise GT implementation. Theoretical components (‘categories’) that emerged in the research include the research process as central concept (the ‘core category’), a research practice component; role players in the research process; the attitude of researchers; knowledge of researchers; skills and attributes of researchers; research resources and research resource centres; and the research climate of the researcher environment. These components constitute the factors that impact ROP. Relational links - which forms the second leg of a developing theory - between these components are explained quantitatively in terms of multivariate linear regression equations; a profile of researcher-type (discriminant analysis) and qualitatively by means of the literature and field notes of this researcher. The emerged theoretical model indicates that knowledge and skills of academic researchers, as well as researcher-type directly impact on the research process and therefore on ROP. Furthermore attitude forms a discriminatory attribute of academic researchers. The objective with the development of the model of ROP was to identify important components of RO delivery and propose grassroots recommendations to promote ROP. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Interest in effectively publishing academic articles stems from involvement in statistical research support provided to academic researchers conducting their research. In the context of this study research output (RO) is defined as the publication of research findings (articles) in academic journals accredited with the South African Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET). The vantage point of this research is that of research support statisticians. New knowledge is continually required to drive decision making, policy formulation, industry, economies, regulation, development, innovation and progress (SESCES 2015:9; Pullinger 2014). Quality published research serves as a reliable source of new information. Therefore measures are globally and nationally implemented to stimulate article publication. Such measures and incentives include measurement of publication rate; journal impact ratings; government funding of research based on research output; acknowledgement as research-intensive institutions, promotion opportunities linked to publication rate and more. Although the literature reports on aspects of the production and publication of research findings, limited research is reported on research output productivity (ROP) viewed from the perspective of the statistical community that support research within the research process. Therefore a theoretical framework for ROP had to be developed. Classic grounded theory (GT) proved to be an appropriate methodology for this research based on its theory-develop properties. The literature, responses to an open- and closed-ended questionnaire, observational field notes of this researcher and informal discussion notes were inter alia used as data bases in the cycles of data-collection-analysis-and-comparison that characterise GT implementation. Theoretical components (‘categories’) that emerged in the research include the research process as central concept (the ‘core category’), a research practice component; role players in the research process; the attitude of researchers; knowledge of researchers; skills and attributes of researchers; research resources and research resource centres; and the research climate of the researcher environment. These components constitute the factors that impact ROP. Relational links - which forms the second leg of a developing theory - between these components are explained quantitatively in terms of multivariate linear regression equations; a profile of researcher-type (discriminant analysis) and qualitatively by means of the literature and field notes of this researcher. The emerged theoretical model indicates that knowledge and skills of academic researchers, as well as researcher-type directly impact on the research process and therefore on ROP. Furthermore attitude forms a discriminatory attribute of academic researchers. The objective with the development of the model of ROP was to identify important components of RO delivery and propose grassroots recommendations to promote ROP. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Population estimations for the year 2000 indicate an increase in poor and minorities in the United States (Loden & Rosener, 1991). In view of this growth trend, Berger (1989) suggests a need for social workers with sensitivity to such populations. The presence of minority perspectives provides a valuable contribution to service delivery (Mullen et al., 1993). Efforts to enhance student persistence in graduate schools of social work will contribute to the pool of social workers available in the next century. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that contribute to African American student persistence in graduate schools of social work. This study applies aspects of Astin's, Tinto's and Green's theories of persistence. Astin's theory of involvement (1975) considers student investment of time in educational pursuits. Tinto's (1975) theory of departure includes background, social and academic aspects in persistence decisions. Green's (1997) theory focuses on the ability of the student to cope with racial issues (racial resilience) and the racial climate of the school (racial responsiveness). One hundred and thirty-five students from two predominantly white and two historically black universities participated in surveys administered to determine the effect of involvement, background, academic, social, resilience factors, and college type upon student persistence outcomes. Interviews held with administrative personnel at each institution provided contextual data. Correlations were used to examine the relationships among all of the variables in the study. T-Tests were conducted to compare outcomes due to university type. Multiple regressions were used to explore the relationships between significant independent variables and persistence. The findings of this study indicate that persistence outcomes of African American graduate social work students are influenced by: (a) academic performance, faculty-student relationships, (c) health, (d) the ability to deal with stress, and (e) ethnic pride (impressions of ethnic group). These findings suggest that social work programs that incorporate aggressive grade monitoring practices, provide diverse opportunities for student-faculty interaction, offer opportunities for health care, stress alternatives, and a culturally relevant curriculum, may positively influence African American student persistence.