Select Muslim International Students' Perceptions of Campus Climate and Acculturation at a Small-Town Texas University

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: College Campus Climates and Diverse Populations

Abstract

Since the 2016 presidential election, international student application and enrollment rates in the United States have declined markedly (Schulmann & Le, 2018). Relatedly, some international students in the U.S. have expressed concern about inhospitable environments on their college campuses (Quinton, 2019). The purpose of this study was to take an in-depth look at the lived experiences of Muslim international students at a small-town Texas institution. Using a narrative inquiry approach, seven Muslim international students were interviewed about their perceptions of campus and classroom environments. Through constant comparison analysis (Constas, 1992), the researcher revealed four prominent themes: (a) isolation as an international student, (b) confronting perceptions and stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs, (c) life in small-town Texas, and (d) future goals.

Author

• Dana Van De Walker, Sam Houston State University