Latino success stories in higher education: A qualitative study of recent graduates from a health science center. Page: 167
View a full description of this dissertation.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
beyond the scope of this study, but something that varied from person-to-person. Likely, this
variance occurs with everyone who has experienced higher education success, which is
something that the research from Pace (1980) and Tinto (1993) shows. To really focus on how
these four concepts individually affect student success at a more global level, a clear definition of
each of the concepts is needed.
Current definitions of cultural and ethnic affiliation hearken to days gone by when the
lines between and among races were defined by governmental entities. This artificial line or
definition of Hispanic was used to determine who would be included in this study; however, the
reality of who falls under the term Hispanic, includes biracial and multiracial people who may
not even consider themselves Hispanic. In this study, three of the four participants had strong
opinions about the difference between Hispanic and Latino, and all four participants preferred to
be identified as either Hispanic or Latino, indicating that this arbitrary governmental definition
may be problematic when undertaking a study such as this. Bridging the gap between the
artificial governmental definitions of race, which are often used when reporting demographics,
and the reality of how people see themselves is important when undertaking this type of study.
Allowing people to create their own definitions of identity and cultural community seemed to
allow for a shared sense of success through the creation of belonging. This may also be a key in
reviewing possible campus engagement models to be used at health science centers as a way to
increase community among Latino students.
The importance of belonging and a sense of community for Latino students at a health
science center was unclear to me until I began writing this chapter. While each participant in this
study sought community in different ways, it became clear to me that each one did seek
community despite their cultural identification, whether community was sought through campus167
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This dissertation can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Dissertation.
Colley, Kay Lynne. Latino success stories in higher education: A qualitative study of recent graduates from a health science center., dissertation, May 2007; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3687/m1/177/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .