ENLACE Successful Students

Goal/Purpose

Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic minority in the US (12.9%).  While their numbers have exponentially grown over the past 30 years, Latina/o student representation in higher education still remains dismal.  Higher education is the primary vehicle to assist these students in improving their economic and social mobility.  Yet, a plethora of psychological, social, and cultural factors have been noted to hinder the college entrance and retention of these students. Considering the disconnection between secondary school and higher education institutions and the growth of Latina/o students, it is noteworthy to identify means of retention and persistence.  Historically, most literature is presented from a deficiency framework emphasizing what Latino student’s lack as oppose to their coping and resilience skills.   The purpose of this project is to identify 30 top students in higher education that have demonstrated resilient coping patterns in their efforts to navigate their educational journeys.