Finding Success

From the visits that Maria had attended, it seemed that she was concerned with the human aggregate over other elements of the environment.  Since she is the first in her family to go to college, she wanted a support group that was nurturing, helpful, and would allow her to grow academically and personally.  What can be taken from the past narrative is how the environment is constructed and the image that each university wants to portray.  Universities and colleges must be aware of the outward appearance they are portraying to future students.  Though each higher education setting has a different set of priorities, each should make the effort to create a welcoming environment to a diverse group of students.

If one was catering to Latinos, one should research at what these students look for and what is needed for success.  In a study conducted by Paul Creason (1994), he was able to find indicators in college that led to success for Latino students.  There were several barriers though that were unique to Latino students.  These included financial stress, family pressure, the curriculum, and being comfortable in the environment.  These success indicators include the following (p. 43-59):

-Strong role models

-A supportive individual

-Family support and their understanding in the education process

-Participation in extra curricular activities

-An understanding of prejudices

-Goal setting

-Leadership that builds confidence

-Demonstrating community service

Maria seemed to experience the appearance of some of these in her tours.  Her parents were treated to advice and talks on financial aid and their educational role.  The personalize experience that she encountered at State University created an instant connection with supportive individuals that could in the future be positive role models and link her to extra curricular activities.  In order to address the struggle with curriculum, colleges should make the effort to create a first year curriculum that helps student transition into college, understand the rules of the university, set goals and priorities, and allow time to access resources on campus that can lead to future leadership opportunities.

Overall, higher education institutions need to be aware of the unique needs of their constituents.  They must make efforts in their policy and curriculum to make accommodations to first generation students.  Though these student have needs that may call for more personalized attention, finding time to make this effort with all students can only provide them with a foundation of success and a closer interaction with faculty and staff.

Creason, P. (1994). An analysis of success indicators for Latino students at Long Beach City College. [Electronic Version]. 1-70.Retrieved October 3, 2008 from EBSCOHost.