The purpose of this study was to gain African American student perceptions about their experiences in an Umoja Community program. Specifically, this study examined the effectiveness of an Umoja Community through the voices of African American students. Two research questions guided this study: (a) What are the experiences of African American students in an Umoja Community? (b) What elements of an Umoja Community program are most effective according to African American students? Ten African American California community college students, ages 19-28 years old, were selected as participants for this study. Each student was a participant in the Umoja Community program at Oceanview Community College (OCC) between 2007-2010. This qualitative study utilized questionnaires, interviews, and a focus group to capture the lived experiences of students in the Umoja Program at OCC. Results of this study yielded six major themes: (a) Formation of Fictive Kinships; (b) Validation and Sense of Belonging; (c) Pedagogy; (d) Relationships With Faculty; (e) Post-Phenomenon Adjustment; and (f) Beyond the Umoja Classroom. Each of these themes will be discussed in great detail in Chapters 4 and 5 of this study. Results from this study contribute to the minuscule body of research surrounding African American students in community colleges. Furthermore, this study expands the body of research that exists surrounding learning communities and student success.
