“Don’t just be ordinary”: Understanding the Resilience of College Students of Color at a Predominantly White Institution

Cassandra Ann Storlie, Bridget Mulvey, Adrienne Erby

Abstract


Despite the prevalence of student multicultural centers providing support to students of Color across higher education institutions in the United States, experiences related to marginalization and discrimination remain present on college campuses. Using an ecological systems framework, researchers interviewed seven undergraduates active with their university’s student multicultural center to explore their experiences of resilience more deeply at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI). Findings indicate a need for expanding support for students who experience frequent microaggressions and stereotyping related to their marginalized identities. Systemic recommendations for working with college students of Color are presented.


Keywords


Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, College students of color, resilience

Full Text:

PDF

References


American Council on Education. (2019). Race and ethnicity in higher education: A status report. https://www.equityinhighered.org/resources/report-downloads/

Anzul, M., Evans, J., King, R. & Tellier-Robinson, D. (2001). Moving beyond a deficit perspective with qualitative research methods. The Council for Exceptional Children, 67(2), 235-249. https://doi.org/10.1177/001440290106700207

Barber, P. H., Hayes, T. B., Johnson, T. L., & Marquez-Magaña, L. (2020). Systemic racism in higher education. Science, 369(6510), 1440-1441. doi: 10.1126/science.abd7140

Brooms, D. R. (2023). Educational desires and resilience among Black male students at a Hispanic-serving institution. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 16(6), 696–708. https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000381

Burt, K. G., Eubank, J. M., & Orazem, J. (2022). Female Black, Indigenous, and students of Color demonstrate greater resilience than other students during a global pandemic. Equity in Education & Society, 1(2), 202-215. https://doi.org/10.1177/27526461221105094

Cerezo, A., McWhirter, B. T., Peña, D., Valdez, M., & Bustos, C. (2013). Giving voice: Utilizing critical race theory to facilitate consciousness of racial identity of Latina/o college students. Journal for Social Action in Counseling & Psychology, 5(3), 1-24. https://openjournals.bsu.edu/jsacp/article/view/231

Cheng, H. L., McDermott, R. C., Wong, Y. J., & McCullough, K. M. (2020). Perceived discrimination and academic distress among Latinx college students: A cross-lagged longitudinal investigation. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 67(3), 401-408. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000397

Choi, Y.H. (2023). Counterspaces as sites of fostering and amplifying community college Latinas’ resistance narratives in STEM. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. Advanced online, https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000489

Cisneros, J., Valdivia, D., Reyna Rivarola, A. R., & Russell, F. (2022). “I’m here to fight along

with you”: Undocumented student resource centers creating possibilities. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 15(5), 607–616. https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000355

Dein, S. (2006). Race, culture and ethnicity in minority research: A critical discussion. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 13(2), 68-75. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16856693/

Edward, K. L. (2005). Resilience: A protector from depression. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 11(4), 241-243.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390305281177

Harris, J. C., & Patton, L. D. (2017). The challenges and triumphs in addressing students’ intersectional identities for Black culture centers. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 10(4), 334–349. https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000047

Haskins, N. H., Parker, J., Hughes, K. L., & Walker, U. (2021). Phenomenological research. In S. Flynn (Ed.), Research design for the behavioral sciences: An applied approach. (pp. 299-327). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826143853

Kearns, S., & McArdle, K. (2012). ‘Doing it right?’: Accessing the narratives of identity of newly qualified social workers through the lens of resilience: “I am, I have, I can.” Child & Family Social Work, 17(4), 385-394. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365`2206.2011.00792.x

Knight, C. (2007). A resilience framework: Perspectives for educators. Health Education, 107(6), 543-555. https://doi.org/10.1108/09654280710827939

Kuiper, N. A. (2012). Humor and resiliency: Towards a process model of coping. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 8(3), 475-491. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v8i3.464

Lang, J., & Yandell, L. (2019). Diversity language as system maintenance: Toward alternative frameworks for addressing racism at predominantly White institutions. Christian Higher Education, 18(5), 343-355. https://doi.org/10.1080/15363759.2018.1517621

Lincoln, Y.S. & Guba, E.G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage.

McCallen, L. S., & Johnson, H. L. (2020). The role of institutional agents in promoting higher education success among first-generation college students at a public urban university. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 13(4), 320-332. https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000143

McShay, J. C. (2017). Engaging students at the intersections through multicultural centers: An application of the culturally engaging campus environment model. New Directions for Student Services, 157, 25-34. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.20206

Museus, S. D. (2008). The role of ethnic student organizations in fostering African American and Asian American students’ cultural adjustment and membership at predominantly White institutions. Journal of College Student Development, 49(6), 568-586. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.0.0039

Museus, S. D., Ledesma, M. C., & Parker, T. L. (2015). Racism and racial equity in higher education. ASHE Higher Education Report, 42(1), 49-71. https://doi.org/10.1002/aehe.20067

Museus, S. D., & Shiroma, K. (2022). Understanding the relationship between culturally engaging campus environments and college students’ academic motivation. Education Sciences, 12(11), Article 785. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12110785

Ong, A., Bergeman, C., & Boker, S. (2009). Resilience comes of age: Defining features in later adulthood. Journal of Personality, 77(6), 1777-1804. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00600.x

Patton, L. D. (2006). The voice of reason: A qualitative examination of Black student perceptions of Black culture centers. Journal of College Student Development, 47(6), 628–646. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2006.0068

Patton, L. D. (2010). Culture centers in higher education: Perspectives on identity, theory and

practice. Stylus Publishing.

Patton, M. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice, (4th ed). Sage.

Patterson, A. F. (2020). Campus engagement and Black American males at a predominantly White institution. Negro Educational Review, 71(1-4), 107-130. https://www.education.pitt.edu/faculty-research/affiliated-journals-and-organizations/negro-educational-review-journal

Pietkiewicz, I. & Smith, J.A. (2012). A practical guide to using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis in qualitative research methodology. Psychological Journal, 20(1), 7-14.

https://doi.org/10.14691/CPPJ.20.1.7

Reid, K. A., & Ebede, S. (2018). Students’ perceptions of ethnic and multicultural centers. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding 5(6), 1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v5i6.436

Robbins, A., Kaye, E. & Catling, J.C. (2018). Predictors of student resilience in higher education. Psychology Teaching Review, 24(1), 44-52. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1180345.pdf

Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. H. (2008). Know thyself and become what you are: A eudemonic approach to psychological well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9(1), 13-39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-006-9019-0

Sanchez, A., & Morgan, M. L. (2022). Community college transfer phenomena: Experiences of academically resilient Mexican and Mexican American students. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 15(4), 412–425. https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000295

Shapiro, D., Dundar, A., Huie, F., Wakhungu, P., Yuan, X., Nathan, A & Hwang, Y., A. (2017). Completing college: A national view of student attainment rates by race and ethnicity – Fall 2010 cohort (Signature Report No. 12b). National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. https://nscresearchcenter.org/signaturereport12-supplement-2/

Smith, J., Flowers, P. & Larkin, M. (2022). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Theory, methods and research, 2nd Ed. Sage.

Smith, J. & Osborn, M. (2007). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. In Smith, J.A., Ed., Qualitative psychological: A practical guide to research methods, (pp.53-80), Sage.

Soria, K. M., & Stubblefield, R. (2015). Building a strengths-based campus to support student retention. Journal of College Student Development, 56(6), 623–631. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2015.0056




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v11i10.6155

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding (IJMMU) ISSN 2364-5369
https://ijmmu.com
editor@ijmmu.com
dx.doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu
facebook.com/ijmmu
Copyright © 2014-2018 IJMMU. All rights reserved.