Asian and Pacific Islander Progression Through Community College: Disaggregating the Data

• In Event: Roundtable Session 22
  In Roundtable Session: The Impact of Disaggregated Data on Asian Pacific Islander Research

Abstract

Research on the education of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) students in higher education has been limited by the quantity and quality of disaggregated data. It tends to emphasize the achievement of students of East Asian descent and also focuses on students in four-year institutions. This study contributes to our understanding of the postsecondary experiences of Southeast Asians and Pacific Islander (SEAPI) students by examining progression through a large urban community college district in California. We find that while community colleges appear to be a route to degree attainment and transfer for API students, SEAPI students are far less likely to persist through math remediation, earn credits that can be applied towards associate’s degrees, and transfer to four-year colleges.

Authors

• Federick Joseph Ngo, University of Southern California

• Jenna Sablan, Loyola Marymount University

• Q. Tien Le, University of Southern California