Examining the Racial Binary Approach: Understanding Latina/o, Black, and White College Athletes' Persistence

• In Event: Black and Latino Student Athletes

Abstract

Latina/os are the third largest demographic in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), yet research on intercollegiate athletics is predominantly based on a Black/White binary approach. This paper focuses on how Latina/o student-athletes’ participation in NCAA divisions and faculty culture is related to their odds of intent to persist in their athletic team or drop out of college or university compared to White and Black college athletes. Guided by Terenzini and Reason’s (2005) Comprehensive Model of Influences of Student Learning, I estimated three different logistic regression models to each of the three dependent variables. The findings provide implications of practice for the NCAA and colleges and university leaders.

Author

• Guillermo Ortega, Idaho State University