A Case Study of Miami University’s Efforts to Recruit,

Develop, and Retain Latin American

StudentsBy Mariah Torres andDaniela Santisteban

Collegiate Latinos in America

Fastest growing demographic in the US

While enrollment rates are improving there is still issues to address. Completion rate (13%)

Collegiate Latinos at Miami

At Miami, 2.8% of study body is Latino

But enrollment has only increased from .58% in the past 6 years

Highest graduation rate of Latinos among all public universities in the state of Ohio.

Literature Review

Primarily focused on community college and Hispanic Serving Institutions

Factors that were most pertinent to Latino college students in each segment included: Recruitment: pre-collegiate preparation, family

relationships, and financial support Development: the ability to contribute to the

educational institution, social integration, and faculty interaction

Retention: social integration and competent or improving academic performance

Hypotheses

1) Miami University’s methods to attract students are not culturally attentive to Latinos, creating a smaller Latino enrollment pool than expected.

2) The support system provided by Miami University for Latinos does not fulfill their desired emotional, social, and academic satisfaction and development.

3) The lack of attention geared toward Latino students by Miami University has led to low retention rates for this minority group.

Faculty Sample

Interviews

• Associate Vice President of Institutional Diversity

• Assistant Director of Diversity Affairs and Coordinator of Diverse Student Development

Survey

• 19 responses• Predominantly

from LAS and Spanish departments

Latin American Student Sample

Interviews

• A junior student• A senior student• Two transfer students• 2006 alum

Survey

• 62 responses • All students surveyed

were of Latin American descent

• 15% representation of Latin American community

• 72.6% female

Percentage of students that identified as Latin American

Analysis of survey: Recruitment

1 (Not Motivating)

2 3 (Somewhat Motivating)

4 5 (Highly Motivating)

Scholarships offered to

Latinos39.3% 11.5% 9.8% 9.8% 29.5%

Senses of Latin American

Community45.9% 29.5% 18.0% 3.3% 3.3%

Recruiters targeted towards Latinos

52.5% 19.7% 19.7% 1.6% 6.6%

Miami Latino Organizations 44.3% 23.0% 16.4% 9.8% 6.6%

Student Motivating Factors

Recruitment: Financial Assistance

66.7% of students that identify as LA thought that scholarships were highly motivating

Only 16.2% of students that do not identify as LA, thought that scholarships were motivating

Faculty also indicated this was the only somewhat motivating factor towards recruiting LA students.

Recruitment: Familial relationships

Surprisingly, only about 30% of LA students considered their parents “Involved” in their college decision

Analysis of data: Development

Student 1 (Low Degree)

2 3 (Average Degree)

4 5 (High Degree)

An adviser and/or mentor that is accessible and that can discuss Latino related issues or concerns

48.3% 19.0% 19.0% 8.6% 5.2%

Organization(s) targeted towards meeting Latinos social needs

19.0% 20.7% 31.0% 22.4% 6.9%

Events focused on Latin American celebrations or culture

15.5% 10.3% 36.2% 31.0% 6.9%

A Latin American community or presence

37.9% 34.5% 20.7% 5.2% 1.7%

Academic resources specifically for Latinos

41.4% 32.8% 15.5% 6.9% 3.4%

Student rated development factors

Development: Faculty Interaction

58.8% of surveyed faculty said that they had been approached by a Latino

76.5% of faculty surveyed had not been trained to address Latino student needs

VP of Institutional Diversity: There is no advisor designed for Latino students

Development: Social Integration

Students more disappointed in lack of diversity rather than lack of Latin American community.

Latino targeted opportunities still lacking: there is not hierarchal form of communication to contact Latino students

Lack of contact between existing Latino organizations

Analysis of data: Development

Satisfied31%

Not Satis-fied69%

Students

Satisfied27%

Not Satis-fied73%

Faculty

Satisfaction Rates

Analysis of data: Retention

Actu

al st

uden

t ...

Facu

lty th

ough

t...0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

27.60%

73.30%

Students that thought about transferring

Conclusions/implications

Hypothesis 1: Supported

Hypothesis 2: Supported

Hypothesis 3: Not Supported

Miami University’s methods to attract students are not culturally attentive to Latinos.

The support system provided by Miami University for Latinos does not fulfill their desired emotional, social, and academic satisfaction

The lack of attention geared toward Latino students by Miami University has led to low retention rates

Limitations

Judgment sampling method versus randomized sample

Survey question limitations Interview question limitations Miami Latino profile

Future Research

Additional interviewso Student that has dropped outo Student that commutes

Expanding future research beyond the isolated campus of Miami University for comparative studies

Conduct longitudinal studies with a sample Latino population

Questions?