The Impact of Culture and Acculturation on the Academic Achievement of Hmong American College Students

• In Event: Roundtable Session 42
  In Roundtable Session: Orienting Asian Pacific Islander Research Through an Ethnic Lens

Abstract

Due to the diversity within the United States, it is important to uncover how social, cultural, and ethnic factors impact student academic achievement. This study explored the extent to which cultural factors and acculturation impact the achievement of Hmong American college students as measured by their GPAs. Using a mixed-methods approach grounded in theories of social identity and cultural capital, data was gathered from nearly 900 Hmong students residing in California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The quantitative and qualitative data include student perceptions of family, heritage, and native language fluency, as well as student experiences in academia. Findings show that certain factors within culture and acculturation, such as family and gender, do impact the academic performance of Hmong college students.

Authors

• Linda Vang, Selma Unified School District

• Susan M. Tracz, California State University - Fresno