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

amy.dooley.bello@gmail.com