Examining Racial Discourse in Equity Reports: Florida's Public Hispanic-Serving Institutions

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 10
  In Roundtable Session: Fostering Equity Through Federal, State, and Institutional Policies

Abstract

Higher educations increased focus on student and institutional diversity has resulted in state and institutional diversity policy. Additionally, public Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) have taken on an increasingly prominent role in educating racially minoritized students. Within these institutions, diversity and equity plans serve as public information regarding institutional efforts. The extent to which these documents center racial diversity often noted as a reason for the reports merits more in-depth discussion. Engaging critical discourse analysis, this research examines diversity reports at ten public HSIs in Florida. By looking at equity plans, connected to state policy demands, this work illuminates how images of racially minoritized students- particularly Latinx students and the construction of the institutions HSI status.

Author

• Ishara Casellas Connors, Texas A&M University - College Station