Success through Support: Community College as a Pathway to Academic Success for Latinx Students

There is an increase of Latinx students attending college in the United States. Previous research indicates a large majority of Latinx students start their education in community colleges. Community Colleges serve predominately underrepresented students such as Black, Latinx, and adult learners. These intuitions struggle with retention rates and students are on average taking 6 years to finish an associate’s degree. This study included 12 Latinx students who attend Angelo College a two-year Jesuit institution who caters to first generation students. The study explores the academic supports that Latinx students rely on in the classroom and outside of the classroom as they navigate higher education. Using the validation frame created by Rendón (1994), this study identifies four major themes of support: academic validation, interpersonal validation, and cultural and social factors.