“I was directly affected by that”: The Role of Institutional Policies in Preventing Organizational Support

• In Event: 41061 - Section on Latina/o Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 7: Institutional Policies, Disaster Response, and Latinx Resilience

Abstract

Literature on Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) has largely focused on organizational practices to better serve Latinx students. However, little attention is given to how institutional-level policies, either on the federal or state level, affect organizational practices. An example of this is the passing of Texas Senate Bill 17, which prohibits public universities from funding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This paper considers how institutional level policies hinder HSI's ability to serve Latinx students. This researcher surveyed and interviewed 66 Latinx students from two different universities in Texas, Traditional University and Non-Traditional University. The findings for this study show how the passing of SB17 and changes to the FAFSA application have hindered HSIs ability to serve their Latinx students. Findings also highlight the multiple identities and experiences Latinx students have. Thus, underscoring the need for a comprehensive understanding to the various way institutional policies affect the Latinx community.

Author

• Emmber Maranda Garcia, Texas A&M University-College Station