Transitioning during a Pandemic: Examining the Institutional Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic for Latina/o/x First Year and New Transfer Students

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the college transition for Latina/o/x students who enrolled at Citrus State College (pseudonym) during the Fall of 2020 as either first-year or transfer students. In particular, the authors explore the effects of the pandemic on students’ sense of belonging, academic integration, and access to support services on the campus. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 self-identifying Latina/o/x students who enrolled at CSU during remote instruction. Using Critical Race Theory as the theoretical framework, findings of the study highlight how inequality was exacerbated for Latina/o/x college students who were expected to understand how to navigate college without the proper institutional support.

KEYWORDS:

• Latina/o/x college students
• college transition
• COVID-19 pandemic

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).