Exploring the Experiences of First-Generation, Multiethnic Undergraduate College Students |
Exploring the Experiences of First-Generation, Multiethnic Undergraduate College Students
The Journal of Student Affairs
Student Affairs in Higher Education
Colorado State University
Volume 14, 2004-2005
Jody Donovan and Lehala Johnson
This qualitative research paper investigates the experiences of first-generation, multiethnic undergraduate students at two public, four-year universities in the Rocky Mountain region. The existing research paints a negative picture in regard to multiethnic students and first-generation students deciding to go to college, enrolling, and then rarely persisting to earn a degree. This study found that, converse to noted literature, the multiethnic, first-generation students are proud of their multiple heritages and did not encounter exceptional difficulty entering or studying at college. This article presents specific issues faced by multiethnic, first-generation students, discusses emergent themes from individual interviews and focus groups, and provides recommendations for higher education leaders.
By the year 2010, it is estimated that students of color at institutions of higher education will rise to 24% of total enrollment (Ortiz, 2002). Many of the incoming multiethnic, first-year students will be the first of their family to pursue higher education (Ortiz). Colleges and universities must acknowledge and prepare for the integration and adaptation of these firstgeneration, multiethnic students to help them adjust to an academic lifestyle and to improve “the retention rates of an increasingly diverse student body” (Gonzales, 1999, p. 5). The purpose of this paper is to discuss exploratory constructivist research on first-generation, multiethnic students enrolled at two public, four-year universities in the Rocky Mountain region.
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Tags: Jody Donovan, Lehala Johnson, The Journal of Student Affairs