Urban Latina/o Leaders' Perspectives on Undergraduate Perseverance and Successful Degree Completion

• In Event: 56.081 - Roundtable Session 24
  In Roundtable Session: 56.081-4 - Diversity and Campus Climate

Abstract

A Midwestern urban regional online study of 34 first generation college-completer Latina/o professionals is used to inform post-secondary preparation and recruitment initiatives, admission and retention programs, ethnic and underrepresented college student leadership development programs, and undergraduate to faculty pipeline programs. Recommendations are provided for university programs seeking to improve Latina/o matriculation, retention, and degree completion, in service to local, regional, and national communities. Preliminary findings suggest on-going family and cultural community support, positive, constructive, and consistent on-campus student to faculty relationships, mentorships, and on-campus cultural/multicultural activity involvement, positively impacts undergraduate Latina/o degree completion. The study provides insight into past successes of Midwestern urban Latina/o leaders that contribute to the success of future generations of Latina/o leaders.

Authors

• Uzziel Hernandez Pecina, University of Missouri - Kansas City

• Dea Marx, University of Missouri - Kansas City