Issues & Challenges :

The issues minority students face vary according to their level of cultural consciousness and socialization. In general, Kentucky resident African American students who attend WKU from rural counties often question their cultural identity once they are initially engaged in the predominately black subculture at WKU.

Many Kentucky resident African Americans have grown up in communities where their minority status was obvious. These students either positively acculturate into the mainstream culture or view themselves as minorities in a majority culture. This perception may be positive or negative.

Generally, Kentucky resident African Americans from metropolitan areas or significantly diverse communities experience the opposite of the rural students because they have been raised in environments where there is a strong cultural/racial presence. These students find themselves "toning down" their cultural norms because it does not fully complement majority cultural norms.