Approximately 4.2% of undergraduates, or 872,000 students, reported that they had served or were currently serving in the U.S. military during the 2007–08 academic year. Of these students, 13% identified as Hispanic/Latino. Despite a history of college participation, only a handful of studies have examined the postsecondary experiences of students with military service backgrounds. Further, no studies have focused specifically on the experiences of Latina/o undergraduates who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. We address this gap in the research literature. We briefly summarize current research and data on military-connected undergraduates and then explore how current models of college student access and choice can be used to understand the experiences of military-connected Latina/o undergraduates. Quantitative survey data obtained from the UCLA Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) are used to describe this understudied and underserved student population. Potential barriers to access and support for military-connected Latina/o undergraduates are also explored. We conclude with a discussion of future directions for research.
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1 December 2015
Research Article|
December 01 2015
Military Service and College: An Exploratory Examination of Military-Connected Latina/o Undergraduates and Access to Higher Education
Monica Christina Esqueda;
Monica Christina Esqueda
Old Dominion University
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Dani Molina
Dani Molina
American Council on Education
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Journal of Latino/Latin American Studies (2015) 7 (2): 102–118.
Citation
José Luis Santos, Monica Christina Esqueda, Dani Molina; Military Service and College: An Exploratory Examination of Military-Connected Latina/o Undergraduates and Access to Higher Education. Journal of Latino/Latin American Studies 1 December 2015; 7 (2): 102–118. doi: https://doi.org/10.18085/1549-9502-7.2.102
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