While multiracial organizations occur on campuses in increasing numbers, little is known about how they develop and function and the purposes they serve for students. Yet as these organizations become more prevalent, staff, administrators, and faculty are being asked to work with and advise them. In this article, the authors review what is known…

In this article, the author argues that current strategies to study and understand students' identities fall short of fully capturing their complexity. A multi-dimensional perspective and a mixed-methods approach can reveal nuance that is missed with current approaches. The author offers an illustration of how mixed-methods research can promote a…

We examined the nuances of multiethnic identity in 22 self-identifying mixed ethnic college students ranging from 17 years of age to 27 years of age via semistructured interviews. Majority of the sample was predominantly female. The participants were recruited from two institutions in a metropolitan area of the Eastern United States. Results…

Biracial and multiracial college students--students having parents from more than one racial/ethnic category--are coming to campus in increasing numbers. This article introduces social and historical factors that affect the experiences of multiracial students and describes social and political developments that may have an impact on how colleges…

Race-based policies and programs for higher education were mainly based on the needs and interests of monoracial students. Until recently, federal policies as well as campus practices have reflected this mind-set. This article provides an overview of U.S. national policy regarding racial data collection and reporting, including implications for…

Teaching the social construction of race remains one of the most challenging tasks for instructors, yet understanding this concept is integral to student success in race and other inequality-themed courses. Instructors have access to an array of readings to help students understand race as a social construction, but few known inclass activities to…

When the U.S. 2000 Census allowed individuals to identify themselves in two or more racial categories, approximately 6.8 million people identified with more than one race. Interest in racial identity development among college students had just broken the surface in the 1990s, and following the 2000 census, even more attention was paid to the…

Despite an increasing multiracial population in Canada, multiracial organizing is uncommon, and student services do not generally address multiracial experiences in universities. In this article, the author explores the multicultural context in which mixed-race people live in Canada and discusses some stories of individuals who have shared about…

With increasing numbers of multiracial individuals and interracial relationships, the potential for rapid growth of this population on campus is unprecedented. Despite this emerging reality, the literature on mixed-race and multiracial persons is very limited, providing little guidance for student affairs educators. To address this need, the…

In recent years, many studies have clearly documented that mixed-race people are currently engaged in the process of self validation (DaCosta. 2007; Dalmage, 2003; McQueen, 2002; Root, 1996 & 2001; Spencer, J, M., 1997; Spencer, R., 2006a; Thorton, 1992). There is not a lot of empirical research that examines how schools influence the racial…

Can online communities contribute to a student's sense of belonging? Does the use of new Internet technologies enhance an individual's sense of self? Is one's racial identity relevant in cyberspace? For multiracial students, the answer to these questions is increasingly yes. Whether mixed-race students are more tech savvy than their monoracial…

As the diversity of the students on campus increases, the importance for everyone in authority to understand students' distinct cultures and how they perceive institutions, and equally, to understand their own privilege, and often unconscious cultural assumptions, has never been greater. This book presents a comprehensive set of resources to guide…

While many institutions have developed policies to address the myriad needs of Millennial college students and their parents, inherent in many of these initiatives is the underlying assumption that this student population is a homogeneous group. This book is significant because it addresses and explores the characteristics and experiences of…

Using an ecology model of human development, frames the exploration of racial identities of 38 college students with multiple racial heritages. Maps the influence of interactions within and between specific environments on students' decisions to identify in one or more of five patterns of mixed race identity found in a previous study. (Contains 43…

This book describes the transformation in the racial self-identification of Americans who have both an African American and a white parent. Using data from extensive research and interviews, the book examines how the transformation has its roots in the historical and cultural transitions in U.S. society since the civil rights era. Chapter 1,…