ERIC Number: ED635899
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 234
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3797-2337-8
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Empty Spaces: A Qualitative Case Study for Closing the Support Gap for Hispanic/Latinx College Students
Ferrallo, Joseph
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Cardinal Stritch University
Presently, United States Census 2020 results reveal that Hispanic/Latinos make up almost 19% of the U.S. population (U.S. Census Bureau -- Hispanic Heritage Month, 2021). The National Center for Education Statistics (2019) study report that Hispanic/Latino students who are first-time, full-time undergraduate students, pursuing a bachelor's degree at a four-year degree granting institution in Fall, 2010 achieved just a 54% persistence rate, compared to 74% for Asian students and 64% for Caucasian students. Further, there is an absence of Hispanic/Latinx voices in higher education research that must be heard (Nora & Crisp, 2012; Torres, 2006; Zarita, 2004) to help legislative, higher education policy makers, and colleges and universities create mechanisms to improve overall Hispanic/Latinx university persistence rates. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of Hispanic/Latinx students about their participation in campus experiences, programs, and support initiatives that influence their decisions to persist in school. The theoretical frameworks guiding this study are Theory (1) Tinto's (1993) theory of student departure (TSD) model, as well as Theory (2) Deci and Ryan's (2000) self determination theory (SDT). The research question was: What supports do Hispanic/Latinx students need to persist in school? Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 Hispanic/Latinx students who were all 19 years or older, and included freshman through senior year, as well as transfer students. The findings of this study suggest that three factors are important for Hispanic/Latinx college success; (1) Pre-College Knowledge Dissonance, (2) Student Experience, and (3) Alumni Leaders. The significance of these findings suggest that legislative policy makers and higher education administrators need to offer programming and support specifically designed to meet Hispanic/Latinx student's needs, so they can persist to graduation. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Hispanic American Students, Undergraduate Students, Academic Persistence, Student Attitudes, Student Participation, Self Determination, Student Needs, Knowledge Level, Student Experience, Alumni, Leadership
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A