Beyond Campus Climate: Structural and Community Factors Shaping Muslim Students’ Success

• In Event: 2323 - Student Forum Refereed Roundtable
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: 6. Marginalization Within the Academy

Abstract

While sociologists have explored the influence of religiosity on academic outcomes in these institutions (Ekhart 2007), few have studied Muslim students’ experiences with anti-Muslim racism and intermediary processes of retention and graduation such as belonging and wellbeing (Hurtado and Harper 2007). Though an increasing body of literature in education studies are dedicated to examining campus racial climates, few of these studies examine the experiences of Muslim Americans. Furthermore most campus climate studies use survey measures that do not adequately capture structural factors beyond campus environments. This paper contributes to sociological studies of higher education and Muslim racialization through an examination of the intersectional experiences of a racially-diverse group of Muslim women attending one public research university in California during the election and inauguration of the 45th President. Specifically, I examine the ways that students sense of belonging and wellbeing (which are positive predictors for retention, see Hurtado and Harper 2007) are shaped by structural factors such as institutional resources, and also community and socio political climates. Drawing upon focus group, participant observation and photovoice action research data, I find that students experience inequality on and off campus through interpersonal and systemic racial-religious invisibility. My paper has implications for theories of racial campus climates and student resistance. It suggests a shift toward a bottom up campus climate studies and towards thinking about the structures that Muslim americans have to navigate in education spaces in addition to their social and cultural identities.

Author

• Saugher Nojan, University of California Santa Cruz