Tempered Resistance to Undocumented Student Support in Community Colleges

• In Event: The Challenges and Perils of Doing DEI Work in Higher Education

Abstract

This study investigates the challenges faced by practitioners in supporting undocumented students in California Community Colleges (CCCs), where conflicting policies and limited resources create significant barriers. Using the tempered radicals framework, the research explores what tempers practitioners' efforts toward institutional change in support of undocumented students. Through exploratory analysis of 27 interviews with CCC practitioners, two major themes emerged: limited resources and tempered resistance, including inaction and reinforcement of status quo practices. The findings highlight the need for institutional leaders to proactively seek funding, foster professional development, and align discourse with actions to prioritize undocumented students' success. This study contributes to understanding the constraints on practitioners' efforts and the dynamics that maintain these barriers.

Author

• Esmeralda A. Hernandez-Hamed, University of Southern California