From Roots to Routes: How Black and Latinx Students and the Staff Who Support Them Used Cultural Wealth to Create Belonging at a Historically White Institution Rhina Duquela El-Amin

Format:

Book

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

El-Amin, Rhina Duquela, author.

Contributor:

University of Pennsylvania. Higher Education., degree granting institution.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

0296.

0325.

0737.

0745.

Local Subjects:

0296.

0325.

0737.

0745.

Physical Description:

1 electronic resource (187 pages)

Contained In:

Dissertations Abstracts International 87-07A

Place of Publication:

Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 2025

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Black and Latinx students, many from low-income communities, are entering Historically White Institutions (HWIs). Most HWIs work to create a sense of belonging on their campuses, recognizing that belonging has been linked to undergraduate student success and persistence. Students experience belonging when they feel safe and valued enough to contribute their ideas and feedback in their campus spaces. Since a sense of belonging is closely related to students' comfort in contributing, this study argues that it is essential to incorporate their perspectives on their needs and experiences of belonging when implementing strategies and initiatives intended to assist in creating belonging on college campuses. Through qualitative methods, this study explored how Black and Latinx students developed a sense of belonging at a mid-size, regional state, HWI, "State U," and examined the strategies faculty and staff used to foster and advance a sense of belonging among their students. The following research questions guided the study: (1) In what ways and in what spaces, if any, do Black and Latinx students experience a sense of belonging at an HWI? How do they describe these experiences in their own voices? (2) How do campus staff members work to create a sense of belonging for Black and Latinx undergraduate college students at an HWI, and what initiatives do they prioritize and believe to be most successful in creating a sense of belonging? The findings revealed several barriers to Black and Latinx students creating belonging at their HWI, including financial and related time constraints, lack of student interest, and concerns about campus safety and security. The findings also reveal that campus support, flexibility, and responsiveness were critical in creating belonging for students. Although students faced many challenges, and the traditional methods of creating belonging were not working at State U, Black and Latinx students' community cultural wealth allowed them to create and find belonging for themselves, and staff were adapting their traditional approaches, as well. Recommendations to create belonging among Black and Latinx students include finding ways to address their basic needs, such as food insecurity, and creating opportunities for students to contribute to their college campuses in ways they find engaging and meaningful

Notes:

Advisors: Wollman, Julie E. Committee members: Perna, Laura W.; Lamar, Ebonish K.

Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 87-07, Section: A.

Ed.D. University of Pennsylvania 2025

Vendor supplied data

Local Notes:

School code: 0175

ISBN:

9798276006598

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license