latino/a students in study abroad: reasons for and against participation
DESCRIPTION
This presentation was presented at SIT Graduate Institute as the final piece of a Master\'s degree in International Education.TRANSCRIPT
REASONS FOR AND AGAINST PARTICIPATION
AMY DOOLEY BELLO (PIM 68)PIM CAPSTONE SEMINARTHURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011
LATINO/A STUDENTS IN STUDY ABROAD
Agenda
IntroductionLiterature ReviewResearch DesignData Presentation & AnalysisConclusions & DiscussionQ & A
Introduction
Staff Quotation
The goal is for minority students going abroad to no longer be the exception, rather
“just part of what we do here.”
(Cecil Youngblood, Director of Intercultural Affairs)
Staff Quotation
“The majority of them are interested and the majority of them are also fearful that they will not have the funding, waste time and money in terms of being away, and have a certain discomfort with going overseas or abroad.”
(Aurora Chang, Director of McNair Scholars Program)
Staff Quotation
“There is nothing that is more of a challenge than making this kind of education affordable
to all who want it.”
(Bill Flanagan, Dean of Students)
Beloit College Enrollment
(Beloit College Student Profile 2010-2011, Admissions)
72% Caucasian, 10% International, 7.2% Hispanic, 3% African-American, 1.6% Asian-American, 4.1% Bi/Multiracial, 2% Unknown
Study Abroad Participants
(Annual Report 2009-2010, Office of International Education)
82% Caucasian, 2% International, 5% Hispanic, 2% African-American, 2% Asian-American, 1% Other Minority, 6%
Unknown
Research Question
Why do Latino/a students either choose or not choose to study abroad and how can we better support these students throughout this process?
Subtopics
Barriers to higher education
Social identity issues
Minority students in study abroad
Literature Review
Teachers
Perceptions of Latino students’ abilities
Incorrectly assigning students to remedial programs
4% of teachers in K-12 and higher education are Latino/a
(Martinez et al., 2006)
Family
Traditionally, females live at home until marriage
Desire to please one’s parents
Many Latinos attend community colleges
(Fry, 2002)
Minority Student Participation
(Salisbury et al., 2009)
Year Study Abroad Higher Education
1995 15.6% Minority Students
2005 17% Minority Students
Increase by 5.6%
Study Abroad Concerns
Financial constraintsLack of awarenessPerception of study abroad as not
importantFamilial and social constraintsFear of racism abroad
(Salisbury et al., 2009)
Concerns for Latinos
Importance of family
Family’s financial situation
Importance of destination
Graduation dates(McClure et al., 2010)
Efforts to increase participation
(Scholarships not based on ethnic diversity)
Boren
Research Design
Case Study: Beloit College
1,337 men and women
123 full-time faculty
11 students per faculty
50% of students study off-campus
(Beloit College Student Profile 2010-2011, Admissions)
Research Participation
Survey via email 20 participants (21% of pop.)
Interviews 9 interviewees (5 female, 4 male)
Survey and interview topics: social identity education/family background study abroad interest
Limitations
No student email addresses
No undocumented participants
White female researcher
No specific ethnicities
Data Presentation & Analysis
Survey Demographics
Survey Question #2 - Class Year
Freshman 15% 3 students
Sophomores 30% 6 students
Juniors 35% 7 students
Seniors 20% 4 students
Survey Question # 9 - Gender
Male 28% 5 students
Female 72% 13 students
Survey Question # 10 - Ethnicity
Latino/a 71% 12 students
Hispanic 29% 5 students
Major
210%1
5%1
5%1
5%1
5%1
5%315%
15%
15%
210%
15%
210%
315%
3. What is your chosen major?
Art & Art History BiologyComparative Literature Computer ScienceEducation & Youth Studies Environmental StudiesHealth & Society Interdisciplinary StudiesInternational Relations Modern Languages & Liter-
aturesPolitical Science PsychologySociology
Study Abroad Interest
Survey Question #4 – When did you first learn about study abroad?
High School 9 students
First Year 8 students
Survey Question #5 – Have you already studied abroad?
Yes 5 students
No 15 students
Interview Question #13
What value do you see in study abroad?
“I think definitely if you have the chance to get out of the country, you should do it
however I am not doing it because I am so connected to the campus, the big financial
aspect, and because of my family.”
Origin
16% 1
6%
16%
1165%
16%
16%
16%
13. From what country does your family originate?
Dominican Repub-licEcuadorEl SalvadorMexicoPeruPuerto RicoUnited States
Interview Question #19
How do your family and/or friends feel about your choice to study abroad?
“My mom was really happy. My dad however, the day before I left, he yelled at me for going so far away from home. He said that’s not what we are supposed to do.”
Destination
211%
317%
16%
16%
317%
16%
16%
16%
528%
6. Where did/do you intend to study abroad?
AustraliaBrazilChinaItalyJapanMaltaPuerto RicoTunisiaNo plans
Interview Question #18
How did you choose the location for your study abroad?
“I was looking at programs in Brazil and Costa Rica and my dad asked why the hell I would want to go to Costa Rica since I
had already been there.”
Reasons to study abroad
Choice of
cou
ntry
Friend
s being
abr
oad
at th
e sa
me tim
e
Encou
rage
men
t fro
m fa
mily
Fit with
aca
dem
ic p
lan
Futur
e ca
reer
am
bitio
n
Langu
age ab
ility
0
2
4
6
7a. What is the most important factor in your decision in favor of studying abroad?
Reasons not to study abroad
0
2
4
6
7b. What is the most important factor in your decision against studying abroad?
Interview Question #16
Are you satisfied with your choice to study abroad or not study abroad?
“Sometimes you have to do things that don’t make you happy, a lot of Latino students
don’t because legally, financially they can’t. So I’m happy about having the option of
going abroad.”
Family Income
739%
422%
211%
211%
317%
14. What is your family's combined income?
Less than $25,000 a year
$25,000 - $50,000 a year
$50,000 - $75,000 a year
$75,000 - $100,000 a year
Over $100,000 a year
Interview Question #14
How would you support the cost of study abroad?
“I have no idea. I have spoken with a few friends who have said that the amount that Beloit gives to help them go study abroad
isn’t enough.”
Global Perspective
If students gain a global perspective, they are better able to “approach the
complex problems of the world ethically and thoughtfully” (Board of
Trustees, 2005).
(Beloit College & Office of International Education Mission)
Survey Responses
How? (1, 2 & 3)
1. “While taking language courses, there was a strong emphasis on countries outside of our own…”
2. “Being in a different country and meeting people from many nationalities is different from talking with the exchange students at Beloit…”
3. “In the States, it is easy to identify as Latina, but abroad I was categorized as American…”
Discussion
Conclusions
Factors impacting choice to study abroad Choice of country Program fit with academic plan Future career ambition
Factors preventing students from studying abroad Lack of finances Connection to family
Recommendations
Welcoming recruitment materials
Attend diversity conferences
Hire returned students of color as ambassadors
Diversify study abroad office staff
Study challenges of students of color
Further Research
Specific ethnic groups or generational groups
Participation rates at different institutions
Biracial student participation vs. non-biracial
Social identity impact on study abroad experience
Scenarios
Student A
Student B
Student C
Bibliography
Bolton Tsantir, S. (2010). Heritage-seeking and study abroad: A case study. Retrieved September 26, 2010, from http://www.iienetwork.org/page/97399/
Brewer, E. (2010). 2009-10 Annual Report. Beloit, Wisconsin: Beloit College. Retrieved from http://www.beloit.edu/oie/international_education/annual_report/
Ethier, K. A., & Deaux, K. (1994). Negotiating social identity when contexts change: Maintaining identification and responding to threat. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(2), 243-251.
Fry, R. (2002). Latinos in higher education: Many enroll, too few graduate. Pew Hispanic Center Report. Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, D.C.
Guerrero, E., Jr. (2006). The road less traveled: Latino students and the impact of studying abroad. (Doctor of Education, University of California - Los Angeles), 1-123. Retrieved from ProQuest database.
Hembroff, L. A., & Rusz, D. L. (1993). Minorities and overseas study programs: Correlates of differential participation. Occasional Papers on International Educational Exchange, 1-90. Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED368283.pdf
Ibarra, R. A. (1996). Enhancing the minority presence in graduate education VII: Latino experiences in graduate education: Implications for change. A preliminary report. Council of Graduate Schools, Washington, D.C.
Kuh, G. D., Arnold, J. C., & Vesper, N. (1991). The influence of student effort, college environments, and campus culture on undergraduate student learning and personal development (Conference Paper. Indiana University, Bloomington, IN: Center for Postsecondary Research and Planning. Retrieved from ERIC database.
Q & A
THANK YOU!
Amy Dooley BelloMaster of Arts CandidateInternational EducationSIT Graduate Institute
PIM 68 – May 2011