Date of Award
11-14-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Educational Leadership, Ed.D.
First Advisor
Ibrahim Duyar
Second Advisor
Pamela Tolliver
Committee Members
Evette Allen Moore
Call Number
ISBN 9798342763264
Abstract
The current study investigated the challenges that undocumented and DACA recipient Latine students in Arkansas face and how they navigate their challenges. Furthermore, the study analyzed the ways in which the challenges and navigation methods influenced the student’s sense of belonging and academic performance. The current study provides support to higher education administration who have previously lacked empirical research to aid in guiding their services provide to Latine DACA and undocumented students. Higher education administrations now use the current study as a foundation for enhancing their services to not only Latine students but other minoritized populations as well. Biographical narrative data was collected via virtual interviews with 15 participants between October and December 2024. Nine participants identified as female while six identified as male. Most participants belonged to the 24-26 age bracket. Additionally, most participants were born in Mexico and Brazil. 13 participants while undergraduates while two were graduate students. Participants were recruited using criterion sampling, thus, they were required to meet very specific criteria before being asked to participate in an interview. Participants were required to self-identify as Latine, attend one of the two universities of focus, identify as undocumented or have DACA, and be at least 18 years old. Once all virtual interviews were completed, the data was then transcribed using Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Word. Data was then uploaded and coded in Atlas.ti. Key findings from the study included: the most prominent challenges students expressed were facing prejudices, financial obstacles, and cultural adaptation. Participants reported heavy reliance on on-campus resources like the library or counseling center as well as family and friends to help them navigate their challenges. Potential implications of this research are the enhanced consciousness among higher education administrators in the provision of services for the target population, enhanced state and federal financial aid for the target population, and a pathway for future replica studies that expand and/or compare the findings of this study.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Canizales, Christian Miguel, "Navigating Challenges in Higher Education: Narratives of Undocumented and DACA Recipient Latine Students in Arkansas" (2024). Student Theses and Dissertations. 23.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/23
