Graduating Class: Disadvantaged Students Crossing The Bridge Of Higher Education

Graduating Class Disadvantaged Students Crossing the Bridge of Higher Education Latty L. Goodwin — with a Foreword by Lois Weis — Graduating Class This page intentionally left blank. Graduating Class Disadvantaged Students Crossing the Bridge of Higher Education Latty L. Goodwin With a Foreword by Lois Weis State University of New York Press Published by State University of New York Press, Albany © 2006 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State University of New York Press, 194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12210–2384 Production by Kelli Williams Marketing by Susan M. Petrie Library of Congress Cataloging–in–Publication Data Goodwin, Latty Lee, 1950– Graduating class : disadvantaged students crossing the bridge of higher education / Latty L. Goodwin. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-6741-4 (hardcover : alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7914-6742-2 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Youth with social disabilities—Education (Higher)—United States—Case studies. 2. Children of immigrants—Education (Higher)—United States—Case studies. 3. Educational equalization—United States. I. Title. LC4069.6.G66 2006 378.1'9826'940973—dc22 2005014624 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is dedicated to the resilient young people whose experiences create the heart of this book, and to Dan, who has my heart This page intentionally left blank. CONTENTS Foreword xi Preface Water, Water, Everywhere! Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 xv 1 Why Should We Care? Looking for Answers Who Are These Students? How Did These Students Succeed? Will Success in College Pay Off in the “Real World”? 2 5 7 8 13 Who Are You? 17 The Pleasers: First-Generation Immigrant Students The Searchers: Second-Generation Immigrant Students The Skeptics: Multigenerational Immigrant Students Conclusion vii 18 22 26 29 viii Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Contents Living Within the Culture of an Elite University 31 The Sum of Its Parts: How to Describe the College Experience Climate Issues Institutional Change Conclusion 33 43 50 55 Lessons Learned: The Academics of College 57 The Pleasers: First-Generation Immigrant Students The Searchers: Second-Generation Immigrant Students The Skeptics: Multigenerational Immigrant Students What Made a Difference Chapter 5 Chapter 6 58 63 68 74 “All Work and No Play”: The Social Relevance of College 79 All Stressed Out The Pleasers: First-Generation Immigrant Students The Searchers: Second-Generation Immigrant Students The Skeptics: Multigenerational Immigrant Students Conclusion 79 Storming the Bridge: Surviving the Challenges of College 101 Adversity Comes in Big and Small Packages Persistence: “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger!” Academic Resilience 103 112 82 86 91 96 121 Contents Chapter 7 ix Exit Ahead: The Outcomes of College 127 Outcomes: What Was Acquired? Reflections of Regret and Hope for t