Experiences and Challenges Faced by Latina/o Students in Four-Year Colleges/Universities

• In Event: Roundtable: Experiences, Challenges, and Prospects Among Tenure-Track Latina/o Faculty in Navigating Academia

Abstract

While the number of admitted Hispanic/Latino students in post-secondary institutions has risen, they still lag behind other groups in completing a four-year degree. As of 2014, among Hispanics ages 25 to 29, just 15% of Hispanics have a bachelor’s degree or higher. By comparison, among the same age group, about 41% of whites have a bachelor’s degree or higher (as do 22% of blacks and 63% of Asians). On the one hand, Hispanic/Latino students are less likely to enroll in a four-year college. On the other hand, Hispanic/Latino students are also more likely to seek employment after high school or during collect that often impacts their ability to complete the requirements necessary to earn a four-year degree. As a result, Latina/o faculty often face challenges while teaching, mentoring, and advising Latina/o students. This paper seeks to explore what issues and expectations Latina/o faculty members have encountered while teaching, mentoring, and advising Latinx students and identify possible solutions to improve the future of these students.

Author

• Jose Torres, Louisiana State University