This document discusses strategies for increasing the success of Latino/Hispanic students in higher education. It notes that Latino students come from a variety of backgrounds and many are first-generation students who need help navigating the US education system. While student and parent aspirations are high, parents have low knowledge about college admissions and financial aid processes. Recommendations include providing bilingual parent education, advising support, learning communities, and helping students select a major to increase retention.

1. What is Unique about Driving
Latino/Hispanic Student Success
Glenda Droogsma Musoba
Florida International University
Miami

2. Many kinds of Hispanic/Latino
Students
Endowed – will make it without our help

3. Challenged – need our help
First generation (low parent education)
Limited English
Lack knowledge of US educ. system
Lower incomes
Weaker curriculum assignment in HS
Weaker high schools
Less than full
documentation

4. Latino high schoolers
• Student aspirations are high
• Rigorous math in 8th grade (↑rising but need
more)
• College prep curriculum track ↑
• AP classes ↑
• Classes at graduation don’t match performance in
10th grade would predict
• Students and parents trust high school placement

5. Parents and high school
• No blaming parents (myth)
• Parent aspirations are high
• Parent encouragement is high
• College knowledge is low about steps to take
and when to take them
– Help select courses
– Monitor grades and on track to graduate
– Plan and prep for PSAT/SAT/ACT

6. Parents and College
• Don’t know how to help select college
• Don’t know the differences in graduation
probability based on where student starts
• More likely to rely on formal information
sources which are limited in many urban HS
• Dislike financial aid application questions
• Don’t understand the out of class expectations
at the U

7. How we can help parents
• Let go of myth that Latinos don’t value
education
• Bilingual parent education on college web
sites
• Parent orientation
• Include parents in the experience
• Parent newsletter
• Use faith communities
• Help with FAFSA

8. Students in college
• Undecided major - Know only the TV careers
• More likely to start at Community College
where financial aid applications are low and
completion rates are low
• CC by definition means an extra transition
• Lack college knowledge so any college feels
unfamiliar
• Cultural incongruence with the competitive
environments of selective institutions

9. What FIU students like?
• Predominantly Hispanic, female, upper division, AA transfers
24% of all FIU undergrads are Upper Division Hispanic females, most
transfers

10. Increasing Latino student success
• Keep connection to family - first year
especially
• Telling to “cut the cord” = “don’t be Latino”
• Small group affiliation more important to fit
than total campus affiliation
• Discussing coursework outside of class is
beneficial so learning communities are useful
• Collaborative learning (small group tutoring)

11. Increasing Latino student success
• Check for counter policies (requiring on
campus living may harm recent immigrant
Latino students)
• Advising – we’ve added face to face and
degree tracking – Community C have high
advisor student ratios so don’t count on them
• First year experience for college knowledge
– Instructor pedagogy balance
– Links to U resources and key academic topics

12. Marker Classes
• College Algebra
– Gateway to major in STEM & Business
– Highest DFW (below passing grade or withdrew)
rate in U
– At FIU about 25 to 30% passing rate on first
attempt (similar rates at non-selective institutions
that don’t make this a priority)
– At FIU, if passed College Algebra: 91% retained to
next yr. If failed College Algebra: 74% retained

13. Undecided about major
• Once students in a major, vast majority graduate
• AA transfer students’ advantage—usually have a
major
• Bridge advisors - Advising center staff housed in
colleges
– Working to link students to majors so not lost
after first year
• FYE section for undecided students with career
selection content

14. Can’t get into major
• Career expansion efforts (beyond TV careers)
• Open more slots
• Help identify when it is not happening and
support (tough love vs. let them keep trying)

15. Increasing student financial success
• Less likely to apply for financial aid
• Parents concerned about privacy and FAFSA
• Encourage financial aid
• Financial aid for undocumented – know the
informal information

16. Discussion/Questions