The voices of student-parents and their hurdles to success in higher education

Perez, Marielisbet

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/92684 Copy

Description

Title

The voices of student-parents and their hurdles to success in higher education

Author(s)

Perez, Marielisbet

Issue Date

2016-04-07

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Dixson, Adrienne

Committee Member(s)

• Trent, William
• Baber, Lorenzo

Department of Study

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadershp

Discipline

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.A.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• student-parents
• first-generation
• higher education expereinces

Abstract

This research pays close attention to how student-parents are identified and served in higher education settings. I specifically looked at the academic and personal experiences of student-parents and the resources they used in order to complete their undergraduate degrees. Student-parents between the ages of 18-40 require and utilize academic and financial resources differently in comparison to non-parent single status students of the same age. The theoretical framework for this study is Pierre Bourdieu's culture capital theory. Bourdieu's forms of capital have played as guiding frameworks of addressing cultural capital wealth and values within white dominated institutions between those from upper middle-class and working lower-class backgrounds. Findings will show participants' parental status and their children being the main motivators in them completing their undergraduate degrees. If we are to understand and serve underrepresented students in higher education, we need to change how we define, support and serve this population. Identifying students as traditional and nontraditional is no enough. Policy makers and higher education administrators and faculty need to acknowledge the diversity within postsecondary institutions. The vast majority of students within these institutions are no longer 18-23 year olds from traditional pathways. One population that is underrepresented and undeserved is students with families.

Graduation Semester

2016-08

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/92684

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 Marielisbet Perez

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