Perceptions of Latino Community College Students Concerning Factors Contributing to Their Academic Success

Perceptions of Latino Community College Students Concerning Factors Contributing to Their Academic Success PDF Author: Mariana J. DeSaracho
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 126

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Perceptions of Latino Community College Students Concerning Factors Contributing to Their Academic Success

Perceptions of Latino Community College Students Concerning Factors Contributing to Their Academic Success PDF Author: Mariana J. DeSaracho
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 126

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Book Description


Factors Affecting Academic Performance of Latino Male Students in Community Colleges

Factors Affecting Academic Performance of Latino Male Students in Community Colleges PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 196

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Book Description
There are pervasive disparities among Latino students' academic achievement in higher education. Although the percentage of Latino students enrolling in post-secondary education has significantly increased every decade since the 1970s, an achievement gap exists among Latino students and other racial/ethnic groups. In addition to the achievement gap between these two groups, there are significant differences in the retention and persistence within the population of college-bound Latinos. Latino male students continue to lag behind Latino females in post-secondary degree attainment. Previous studies have examined the academic achievement of Latino students and a limited number has studied Latino male students. However, most studies have focused on Latinos attending four-year institutions and these studies tended to focus on students' perspectives. Little is known about faculty's perspectives of the academic performance of Latino students, particularly Latino male students in community colleges. Thus, there are still gaps in our understanding of this phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to explore community college faculty members' perceptions of Latino male students' academic performance. The study employed qualitative research methods and a phenomenological approach. The theoretical framework for this study was based on Alexander Astin's Student Involvement Theory and Laura Rendón's Validation Theory. Seventeen full-time faculty members were recruited from Bay Community College (BCC) in Southern California. Individual face-to-face interviews, journal notes, demographic information questionnaires and one focus group were conducted to address the following three research questions: (1) What factors contribute to the academic performance of Latino male students in community colleges?, (2) How are faculty members involved in Latino male students' academic and social activities?, and (3) How do faculty members view the institution's role in validating Latino male students' academic achievement? All interviews and focus group were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Interview and focus group transcripts were analyzed using the methods of content analysis and discourse analysis. Data triangulation, respondent checking, and peer debriefing were employed to ensure credibility, dependability, and trustworthiness of the data and the interpretation. Analysis of the research yielded the following themes pertaining to faculty perceptions of the academic achievement of Latino male students. For research question number one, three themes emerged from the data: Becoming a College Student, Student Engagement, and Identity of Latino Male Students. For research question number two, one theme emerged: Interactions between Faculty and Latino Male Students. For research question number three, the theme Validation and Sense of Belonging surfaced describing the institutions role in validating Latino Male Students. Based on the study findings, implications and recommendations for research and practice were made in order to address the academic success of Latino male students at Bay Community College.

Factors that Impede and Promote the Success of Mexican-American College Students

Factors that Impede and Promote the Success of Mexican-American College Students PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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Nationwide, Latino students are entering college, yet are not completing a four-year degree at the same rate when compared to other ethnic groups. Between 1992 and 2007, only five percent of Latinos successfully earned a four-year college degree, and that number is lower than any other ethnic group (College Board, 2007). California Community College Chancellor's Office [CCCCO] (2010) revealed that 50% of students drop out of college after their first semester; furthermore, the California Community College [CCC] system houses the largest percentage of Latino students in the state. In short, these statistics are staggering in terms of showing the underachievement of Latinos in higher education. Policy makers, administrators, faculty and staff need to find better ways to effectively help increase the academic success of the Latino student population. This lack of academic success among Latinos is a serious problem, especially considering the implications it could have for the state and national economies. Latinos represent 56 percent of the nation's population growth, and Mexicans represent the largest sub-group among Latinos (United States Census Bureau [Census], 2010). If the Latino population continues to fall further behind in educational attainment compared to other groups, while continuing to increase at a faster rate than other ethnic groups, then this might have negative implications for the U.S. economy and society, especially in states like California. The conceptual framework used for this study was based on Laura I. Rendon's (1993) Theory of Validation. This theory was used to examine factors that are perceived to have the greatest effect on impeding and promoting the success of first-year Mexican-American community college students. Factors include faculty and student interaction within and outside the classroom, learning opportunities and instructional strategies, counseling and student interaction, and support services utilized by students. These factors were examined from the perspectives of students and faculty representing various disciplines using a qualitative methods approach. Grounded theory was the research foundation used in the study (Creswell, 2009). The researcher unraveled and compared data, themes emerged and patterns were identified. This method was intended to compare data from different groups to identify the similarities and differences of faculty and students perception regarding academic success of Mexican-American college students. The community college where the participants were drawn from is a single college district with a student enrollment of 22,000. This Hispanic serving public institution (HSI) is located in Southern California. The three research questions addressed were (1) What institutional factors are perceived to promote the academic success of first-year Mexican-American community college students? (2) What institutional factors are perceived to impede the academic success of first-year Mexican- American community college students? (3) How do the perception of students and faculty compare concerning the academic success of first-year Mexican-American students. The research consisted of seven structured interviews with tenured faculty members, seven focus groups and two student interviews, for a total of 26 student participants. A total of eight themes and sub-themes emerged from the data. The themes were categorized into effective methods and ineffective methods. The sub-themes were "instructional strategies," "instructor/student relationships," "instructor behaviors," and "student support services." There was a high degree of congruence between faculty and student respondents on the factors that enhance and impede the academic success of Mexican-American college students. Based on the study findings, recommendations for research and practice were made in order to increase the success of first year Mexican-American college students.

Understanding Latino students' perceptions of the forces that promote and hinder bachelor's degree attainment

Understanding Latino students' perceptions of the forces that promote and hinder bachelor's degree attainment PDF Author: Urbano Tercero Garza Martínez
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 112

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This qualitative study explores Latino students' perceptions of the ways in which they have become successful students at a four-year institution. Success is defined in this dissertation as being on the path to graduation from college. It focuses on students' voices to understand their experiences as they relate to their academic success. A group of students who are juniors and seniors at a private, faith-based institution were interviewed. Through case study methodology, the study seeks to address the following research questions: (1) what aspects of their college experiences do graduating Latino students perceive to have been crucial in their successful path to graduation?; (2) what aspects do they perceive to have hindered their academic success? ^ While the literature on Latino success is growing, much of it concentrates on their experiences at community colleges, or it is also subsumed in studies that research minority students in general. This study explores the experiences of Latino students in particular, and by doing so, it is expected to contribute to the body of knowledge on the degree attainment of Latino college students attending four-year institutions. ^ The study also seeks to inform educational practice and policy-making by providing data on what Latino students perceive were influential factors that hindered, or contributed to, degree attainment at four-year institutions. ^

Disadvantaged Hispanic students' perceptions of factors contributing to their academic success

Disadvantaged Hispanic students' perceptions of factors contributing to their academic success PDF Author: Phyllis Marie Robertson-Courtney
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mexican American students
Languages : en
Pages : 488

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Academic Achievement of First-Generation Mexican American Males in a Community College

Academic Achievement of First-Generation Mexican American Males in a Community College PDF Author: Carlos C. Peña
Publisher: Universal-Publishers
ISBN: 1612339522
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 142

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Book Description
The purpose of this study was to examine the complexities of successful attainment and achievement of 10 Mexican American males in a rural Southwest community college. This study strives to offer insights concerning the questions: (a) what behavioral patterns of current family, peers, and conditions in school have influenced the educational decisions of these Mexican American males? and (b) what social conditions motivate these Mexican American males to seek and achieve higher education despite adversity? This qualitative research was also aimed at establishing and understanding how a selected number of Mexican American males have achieved academic success. The researcher chose 10 men with either an associate of arts or an associate of science degrees for an in-depth interview and used a semi-structured interview guide in an effort to prompt oral discourse. The interviewer posed questions concerning academic conditions, family impact, college environment, and financial issues. The responses to the questions led to similar themes involved in these students' course completion and graduation. The researcher used a theoretical framework using Bandura's Social Learning Theory (1977) in which he suggests that not only environmental factors, but motivational factors along with self-regulatory mechanisms affect an individual's behavior. This research illustrated the conditions that facilitated reaching the participant's educational goal and mission, which was to complete a two-year degree at the community college. The inquiry examined the behavioral patterns that have been an influence on the educational decisions of these Mexican American males, and what social conditions have motivated them to seek and achieve higher education despite adversity.

Latino Or Hispanic Perceptions of Factors that Helped Them Graduate from a Four Year College Or University in the United States Or America

Latino Or Hispanic Perceptions of Factors that Helped Them Graduate from a Four Year College Or University in the United States Or America PDF Author: Rocío Saldaña-Reyes
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 206

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Book Description
Hispanics/Latinos, one of the hardest hit group dropouts from U.S. schools. However, some graduate. This study explores the perceptions of four Hispanic/Latino adults on their academic success in colleges or universities in the U.S. I analyzed and summarized the findings of the data from the respondents' completed surveys and questionnaires. These findings were organized and reported by themes that emerged from the guiding questions I designed for my study: role of the family on the participants' success in their college career, school characteristics that played a role in the participants' success in k-12, and factors that played a role in the participants' motivation to go to and graduate from college. Even though there is not one only definite answer to my thesis, it was found that dramatic personal experiences as well as coincidence are factors that motivate a student to go and graduate from college.

High-Achieving Latino Students

High-Achieving Latino Students PDF Author: Susan J. Paik
Publisher: IAP
ISBN: 1648020127
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 295

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Book Description
High-Achieving Latino Students: Successful Pathways Toward College and Beyond addresses a long-standing need for a book that focuses on the success, not failure, of Latino students. While much of the existing research works from a deficit lens, this book uses a strength-based approach to support Latino achievement. Bringing together researchers and practitioners, this unique book provides research-based recommendations from early to later school years on “what works” for supporting high achievement. Praise for High-Achieving Latino Students "This book focuses on an important issue about which we know little. There are many lessons here for both scholars and educators who believe that Latino students can succeed. I congratulate the authors for taking on this timely and significant topic." ~ Guadalupe Valdés, Ph.D., Bonnie Katz Tenenbaum Professor in Education, Stanford University. Author of Con Respeto: Bridging the Distances Between Culturally Diverse Families and Schools "This is a must-read book for leaders in institutions of both K-12 and higher education who want to better understand success factors of Latino students in the US. Using a strength-based framework to understand and support Latino achievement is a new paradigm that must be considered by all." ~ Loui Olivas, Ed.D., President, American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education "In addition to being the right book at the right time, these editors should be congratulated for giving us a stellar example of how a research-practice collaboration comes together to produce such a valuable and lasting contribution to the field of school reform and improvement. Those who work in schools, universities, think tanks and policymaking centers have been waiting anxiously for this kind of book, and it’s now here." ~ Carl A. Cohn, Ed.D., Former Executive Director, California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, CA State Board of Education member, and Superintendent "There may not be a silver bullet for solving the so-called problem of Latino underachievement, but well-conceived solutions do exist. This powerful book offers strength- and asset-based frameworks that demonstrate Latino achievement is possible. Read this text to not only get informed, but to also get nurtured and inspired!" ~ Angela Valenzuela, Ph.D., Professor in Education, University of Texas at Austin. Author of Subtractive Schooling: US-Mexican Youth and the Politics of Caring

A Case Study Comparison of Self-perception of Latino First Year Students and Latino Second Year College Students

A Case Study Comparison of Self-perception of Latino First Year Students and Latino Second Year College Students PDF Author: Corinna Cavanaugh
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Hispanic American college students
Languages : en
Pages : 142

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Book Description
The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the self-perceptions of Latino students at an institution of higher education in Eastern Pennsylvania. Specifically, first and second year Latino student’s self-perceptions of campus assimilation and involvement in campus activities were studied. Latino assimilation into Western culture has been tumultuous. Although statistics report Latino college enrollment to be the second highest in the nation, second only to Asian enrollment, degree completion rates continue to be the lowest in the nation. Subsequently, a rise in Latino population is dramatically influencing the higher education classroom, and educators are confronted with meeting the educational needs of the Latino population. Furthermore, the assimilation process of the college Latino student is arduous, and the research on self-perceptions of Latino student academic and social integration on the college campus is sparse. The voice of 10 volunteer Latino students on a non-Hispanic serving college campus in Eastern Pennsylvania revealed three unique themes that influence belongingness, academic, and social integration on the college campus. The desire to provide better opportunities for themselves and others is the drive behind academic success. Tinto’s interactionalist theory serves as the foundation for exploration of the Latino student’s individual experiences of academic and social integration on the college campus. Triangulation is supported by individual interviews, student journaling, and use of the cultural congruity scale. Additionally, field journaling of researcher notes are used to provide further value. Finally, recommendations for future research based on Latino student voice are explored.

Mexican American Community College Student Perceptions of Science Related Education

Mexican American Community College Student Perceptions of Science Related Education PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 140

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Book Description
The community college is in a unique position to help advance the education of students in all sectors of society. As this new century begins, however, many Hispanic and Latino students begin college at the community college level, but do not transfer to universities in significant numbers. Embedded in these data are the low numbers of this population who complete baccalaureate studies in science, technologies, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors. As such, this study focuses on a Mexican American segment of the Hispanic/Latino population and examines the factors related to their successful transition through their STEM education in a Southern California community college that is also a Hispanic Serving Institution. Using the Grounded Theory research methodology, the researcher determined that Mexican American students who had persevered into upper level community college STEM courses had engaged in social connections throughout their STEM educational experience. Social connections were in the form of family support, institutional inclusion, peer engagement, and faculty involvement. Central to these connections were demonstrated examples of student validation, institutional involvement, and various forms of academic and social integration.