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Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the experiences of Black undergraduate members of Black Greek-letter fraternities through their narratives. This research advances the knowledge of Black undergraduate males in Black Greek-letter fraternities and the practice of student affairs professionals (including inter/national headquarters representatives) serving them by providing insight into this group of young men. In this study, six Black undergraduate males who are members of Black Greek-letter fraternities shared stories of their experiences as undergraduate members and how fraternal expectations had impacted their academic progress. Nine semi-structured interview questions were asked of each participant, each of whom was between the ages of 18-23, identified as Black and/or African American, identified as a male, was currently enrolled and pursuing the first undergraduate degree, and was a member of an undergraduate chapter of one of the five fraternities holding membership in the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The study focused on the research questions: What are student perceptions of how their undergraduate membership in a Black Greek-letter fraternity influences their academic progress? And What fraternal expectations do undergraduate members believe influence their academic success as they define it? The stories gathered in through this study fell into eight consistent themes. This study found that while there were similarities in the stories of these Black undergraduate males, there were also some differences. Their understanding of their respective fraternitys values, motivations for joining, interpretation of academic progress and understanding of how their fraternity influenced their academic success all differed. This research advances the knowledge and understanding of this unique population within the Black demographic on college campus.