Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons^™

Bilingual Latinas Experiences Graduating With 4-Year Degrees, Patricia S. Costa

Andrews University Teaching and Learning Conference

This session presents the results of a qualitative research study about the achievement gap between bilingual Latinas and other ethnicities. Statistics show that merely about 18% of Latinos in the United States have a bachelor’s degree. Researchers claim the main hurdles for bilingual Latinas to graduate from universities are being undocumented citizens, lacking English proficiency, having economic hardship, having familial accountability, and experiences with discriminatory practices. The primary purpose of the research project is to describe the university experiences of six self-identified bilingual Latinas who earned 4-year degrees in universities in Michigan. The participants’ stories shine light into what seemingly …