Resources and information for serving minority populations

Abstract

U.S. community colleges have long been regarded as beacons of access and educational opportunity for the masses, and at no time has this function been more critical than at the present. Community colleges have successfully adapted to waves of societal changes over the last century, yet currently a unique combination of demographic and enrollment shifts is challenging the resiliency of these open-access institutions in serving an increasingly diverse population (Schuetz, 2002).This chapter serves as a synthesis of relevant resources and critical information on the topic of serving minority populations in community colleges. Of special note is that a majority of the resources highlighted in this chapter are readily available through the ERIC database, now accessible at its new online home at http://www.eduref.org/Eric. Drawing on material presented earlier in this volume, this chapter will provide information and relevant resources on demographic and enrollment trends in two-year institutions, minority degree completion, the community college transfer function, Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), and campus racial climate issues. It will then present selected programs and services that facilitate greater minority student success.As has been acknowledged throughout this volume, trends in demographics, enrollment, persistence, and transfer highlight the increasing importance of community colleges as vital gateways to higher education for Many of the LACCD programs and services presented in the last section of this chapter were drawn from a list compiled by Linda Serra Hagedorn.

Where do Latinas and Latinos earn social science doctorates?

“…Although students of color disproportionately enroll at community colleges and many do not graduate (Sáenz, 2004), large percentages of Latinas and Latinos who earned doctorate degrees between 1990 and 2000 previously attended community colleges (Solórzano et al, 2005). During the 1990s, nearly one-quarter of new PhDs who previously attended a community college, earned the doctorate in a social science field (Solórzano et al, 2005).…”

Family Structure Change Among Latinos: Variation by Ecologic Risk

“…The Latino population in the United States is richly diverse in terms of race, religion, and socioeconomic status (Sáenz, 2004). The number of Latinos in the United States more than doubled between 1980 and 2000, accounting for 40% of the growth in the country's population during that period.…”

“…The impact of the Latino population on the cultural life of the United States goes beyond demography, to include cultural influences (e.g., food, music, language) and political, economic, and social contributions. As Sáenz (2004) argues, these attributes make the bilingual and bicultural Latino population a valuable resource in this country.…”