Advancing Latinx Diversity in Academia and Why It Matters

Abstract

While the Latinx student enrollment has dramatically risen in recent decades, a large share of Latinx adults remain without a college degree. Despite efforts by U.S. colleges and universities to recruit a diverse student body to create a better learning environment, many educational institutions are unable to retain Latinx students over time. The purpose of this article is to explore the barriers that many Latinx students face on the path to obtaining a college degree and to contextualize these challenges using an autoethnographic approach based on my experience as a Latina and second-generation immigrant. In my discussion, I provide recommendations for postsecondary institutions on how to increase the completion and graduation rates of Latinx students to advance Latinx success as one of the fastest growing demographic groups in the U.S.

Keywords:

• Hispanic
• Latino/a/x
• immigration
• diversity
• higher education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Janice Iwama

Janice Iwama is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Justice, Law & Criminology at American University in Washington, D.C. She has written extensively on the intersection between race, ethnicity, and immigration in relation to violent crimes in communities. She has also worked extensively on projects with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to develop a better understanding of patterns and trends in crime and victimization.