A Critical Document Analysis of Financial Aid Discourse in California Community College Student Equity Plans

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 2:15 pm - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: The Role of the State Policy in Shaping Equity, Access, and Resources

Abstract

This study critically examined how financial aid equity was framed within Student Equity Plans (SEPs) across California Community Colleges, with a focus on strategies impacting Black students. Using Critical Race Hermeneutics (CRH), a qualitative document analysis of 49 certified SEPs revealed a widespread reliance on race-neutral language in its financial aid strategy. The findings highlighted how institutional discourse often failed to address the racialized dimensions of financial need, reinforcing hegemonic whiteness in equity planning. This research contributes to the field by exposing the limitations of colorblind policy language and calls for race-conscious approaches that more effectively confront structural barriers to financial aid access for Black students.

Author

• Edwina Williams, MiraCosta College