Cultivating a College-Going Identity: Latina/o Students' Perceptions of Teacher Support

• In Event: Hispanics and Higher Education: Aptitudes, Community Colleges, and Labor Market Returns

Abstract

In this study, 26 qualitative interviews with Latina/o high school students regarding perceptions of teacher support and communication about going to college. There was an overwhelming consensus that students do not feel comfortable talking to their teachers about going to college. Themes that emerged from student interviews point to their desire for teachers to provide them multiple types of support. These findings have implications for teacher training programs to show how emotional support can be a vehicle for students to access the informational and instructional support needed to make it to a 4-year college.

Authors

• Rebeca Mireles-Rios, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Tiffany Ibarra, Univesity of California - Santa Barbara

• Diana Chagolla, San Diego State University

• Patti Martin, Aalto University