Recruitment and Recruitment and Retention Strategies for Retention Strategies for Latino Students in Latino Students in Tennessee’s Private 4-Tennessee’s Private 4-year Institutionsyear Institutions

Presented to the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association

By Carrie Abood, Darwin Mason, and Chris White

About TICUAAbout TICUA

• TICUA's 34 member colleges and universities represent East, West, and Middle TN• 76,000 students educated, representing every county in the state and all 50 states in the nation (24% total number of students attending college in TN)

Purpose of the StudyPurpose of the Study

•…to identify the perceived effective perceived effective strategiesstrategies utilized by colleges and universities to recruit, retain, and recruit, retain, and graduategraduate Latino students

•…specifically, to focus on how TICUA member institutionsTICUA member institutions can recruit and retain Latino students in their institutions

Significance of the StudySignificance of the Study•Unique focus• Four-year private institution• Non-border state

•Pertinent focus• Population increase in the Southeast• Political and legal climate

•Personal focus• Qualitative study• Student perspectives

Significance of the StudySignificance of the Study

A Review of LiteratureA Review of Literature

A Review of LiteratureA Review of Literature

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

• Q1: What factor(s) did Latino students in TICUA member institutions perceive as influential in their decision to enroll at a particular institution?

• Q2: What factor(s) do Latino students in TICUA member institutions perceive as influential in their decision to persist at that institution?

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

• Q3: What effective strategies should TICUA member institutions implement to recruit and enroll Latino students?

• Q4: What effective strategies should TICUA member institutions implement to retain Latino students?

Methodology – DesignMethodology – Design

Methodology – SurveyMethodology – Survey

Methodology – Data Methodology – Data CollectionCollection

FindingsFindings

Survey – the “big” picture•From the 13 possible Yes/No/Unsure questions, 8 of those had more No responses than Yes•Average number of Yes responses by an institution: 5 out of 13•Four institutions had 10+ Yes responses

Implementation is occurring, but there is room to increase practices

in TICUA member institutions

FindingsFindingsFocus Group and Interview Demographics

FindingsFindings•Five themes emerged from Interviews:• Administrative Commitment, Relationships, Financial Commitment, Intentionality, Student Support

•Four themes emerged from Focus Groups:• Financial Incentives, Institutional Fit, Campus Community, Influences

Findings – Interview Findings – Interview ThemesThemes• Mentioned by participants at all four

institutions• “In word and deed”• “Champion”• “I want [the institution] to be, to come to

a point where we don’t have to talk about diversity because we are diversity. I want us to be the leading example of it.”

Findings – Interview Findings – Interview ThemesThemes• Faculty-student relationships: “faculty

availability,” “bicultural,” “mentoring” • “You know, our faculty is not afraid to pull

the students, out of class and say, okay, you’re slacking. And it’s not a, what are you dealing with what’s wrong with you. It’s okay, I see this. What’s going on? Is it life? Is it the class? Is it the professor? What could we do to help?”

Findings – Interview Findings – Interview ThemesThemes• Financial commitment was defined as the

institution’s willingness to ensure financial resources are allocated for recruiting and retaining Latino, and other minority, students• Manifested in values, budgets, and

various means of providing financial assistance • Direct aid to the student or allocation of

funds• Creative, flexible, case-by-case

Findings – Interview Findings – Interview ThemesThemes• Mentioned at all four case study

institutions• Intentionality and deliberativeness

demonstrated value and showed priority to Latino students• Examples: Formal diversity positions,

Community partnerships, Family outreach, Development of faculty and staff

Findings – Interview Findings – Interview ThemesThemes• Student support services help to acclimate

to college life and encourage retention

• Examples: Formal diversity office on campus, mentoring programs, community partnerships, and clubs that value diversity  

Findings – Focus Group Findings – Focus Group ThemesThemes

• Money was the most significant barrier for students when considering college• Scholarships & grants specific to Latinos or

students of color opened doors • “…the scholarship is really what got me

here.”• Undocumented students – greater reliance on

private donors and institutional aid

Findings – Focus Group Findings – Focus Group ThemesThemes• Specific codes: fate, welcoming, school size,

comfort, Christian environment, relational, polite, and safety

• Environment • “I believe [the institution] not only helps

grow the students academically, but also morally and spiritually, and I think that’s just a big part of being human after they get out of [the institution].”

• “It’s like we’re all family and most of the time we know each other because it’s a small campus.”

Findings – Focus Group Findings – Focus Group ThemesThemes• Communion and Unity• “I think everyone is really, like, united.”

• Student-to-student• “The family that I formed here, that’s what makes

me stay here.”• Faculty-to-student • “I think the professors have a lot to do with it

because the professors are incredibly open to speak to you, get to know you…invite you to their home.”

• Opportunities to engage the community off campus

Findings – Focus Group Findings – Focus Group ThemesThemes• Institutional or Personal• Institutional Influences: prestige, mentoring,

tutoring, Admissions recruiter, partnerships, organizations, professional connections

• Personal Influences: Family, motivation for a better life, sense of obligation

• “You stay in [home city], you go to the same community college that your mother went to…and you do like one of the five or six well-paying jobs there, you know, and then you get married and you have kids and your kids go to the same schools that you went to. It’s a cycle. It’s very much a cycle.”

RecommendationsRecommendations

• Institutional leaders demonstrate commitment to serving the Latino student population• Provide financial aid that is specific to

Latino students• Create a multicultural affairs

department or office• Develop community partnerships• Increase the cultural competence of

faculty and staff

Discussion Questions• Which recommendation(s) would you

implement at your institution? • Does one recommendation stand out as most

important for your institution? If so, why?• Do you have a “champion” on campus, ready

to implement your recommendations?• What community partners exist in your area?

How can you work with these partners to increase Latino enrollment and improve their experiences on campus?• Which recommendation(s) seem “out of

reach” for your institution right now? Why?

Questions?Questions?