Date of Award
5-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
College/School
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department/Program
Psychology
Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair
Milton Fuentes
Committee Member
Erica Nahin
Committee Member
Vanessa Rodriguez
Abstract
For the past decade, the United States has witnessed exponential growth in the Latine population. As of 2022, Latine individuals are the nation's largest racial/ethnic minority, comprising 19.1% of the total population (Census, 2023). Consequently, there has been a 1.2 million increase in Latine college attendees between 18–24 years of age since 2005 (Census, 2023). Although there has been a rise in Latine students in higher education, there has only been a 1% increase in degree completion rate at four-year universities among this population in the last four years (Excelencia in Education, 2023). The study aimed to explore what functions as catalysts or barriers for Latine students' academic achievement, particularly at a Hispanic Serving Institution. More specifically, this study examined the extent to which racial-ethnic identification (REI), skin color, trauma, and demographic variables affect academic achievement. Unexpectedly, the findings of this study yielded that Latine students with on average darker skin complexion showed lower levels of REI compared to their counterparts. Expectedly, traumatic symptomatology was the only statistically significant positive predictor when assessing the rate of dropped, failed, and withdrawn (DFW) courses. Therefore, as PTSD symptoms increased, the student's DFW rate also increased among the entire sample and students of color. It is essential to highlight the implications of these results, as this study had low statistical power. Nonetheless, the study serves as a guide and overall snapshot of information for Hispanic Serving Institutions to tailor resources and training guides to best support the student body.
File Format
Recommended Citation
Lazo, Maritza, "Examining Academic Success: A Focus on Latine College Students at a Hispanic Serving Institution" (2024). Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects. 1428.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/etd/1428