Student Involvement & Academic Outcomes

Donald Mitchell Jr. (PhD, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities) is assistant professor of higher education at Grand Valley State University. His research explores the impact of race, gender, and identity intersections in higher education contexts.Krista M. Soria (PhD, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities) is a research analyst at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Her research examines the educational experiences and outcomes of first-generation, low-income, and working-class college students.Elizabeth A. Daniele is a doctoral student in sociology at Syracuse University. Her research explores marked and unmarked cultures, Latinos in the United States, and racial identity development.John A. Gipson is a doctoral student in educational psychology and recruitment specialist at Purdue University. His research examines the college experiences of African American students,particularly high-achieving African Americans.

«The most promising trend in U.S. postsecondary education for enriching learning outcomes is the increasing diversity of students. The contributors to this book provide a smorgasbord of insights into what faculty and staff must do to realize this potential by using educationally purposeful practices inside and outside the classroom.» (George D. Kuh, Adjunct Research Professor and Director of the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment, University of Illinois) «This book is an important contribution to the literature on student engagement and outcomes. Student participant responses in my research indicated that men and women of color, felt apart from the student life into which they were being socialized – at best, they felt as though they were guests in someone else’s house. The editors and authors of ‘Student Involvement & Academic Outcomes: Implications for Diverse College Student Populations’ provide much-needed insights from multiple perspectives to further the reader’s understanding of this phenomenon and to promote actions to address it.» (Caroline Sotello Viernes Turner, Professor, California State University, Sacramento and Past President, Association for the Study of Higher Education) «‘Student Involvement & Academic Outcomes: Implications for Diverse College Student Populations’ makes a valuable contribution that is substantive, extends knowledge, and has the potential to significantly influence policy and practice in higher education. This book offers a compelling combination of theoretical keystones and researched-based practices to help faculty and practitioners understand the effect and consequences of particular engagement activities and the diverse populations we serve. The practical strategies offered are exceedingly helpful as are the cautions that identify practices that may hinder the academic achievement of diverse student groups.» (Raechele L. Pope, Associate Professor, University of Buffalo) «If you care deeply about student success, especially among students from historically marginalized communities, this is an essential book. Donald Mitchell, Jr. and his colleagues paint a clear picture of what we need to know about creating and sustaining environments where students will flourish. Supporting and advancing the latest research, these pages are full of practical counsel for strengthening colleges and universities and unearthing the greatest potential of our communities of diverse students. What makes this book especially important is the way it challenges previously held, sometimes inaccurate, assumptions about the best educational practices for students from a wide variety of backgrounds. The authors guide readers to better pathways for influencing and advancing student success and learning. This is the ideal book to read and discuss with colleagues and your students, who will no doubt be the beneficiaries.» (Frank Shushok Jr., Executive Editor, About Campus and Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Associate Professor of Higher Education, Virginia Tech)

• Contents: Samuel D. Museus/Varaxy Yi: Rethinking Student Involvement and Engagement: Cultivating Culturally Relevant and Responsive Contexts for Campus Participation – Amanda Suniti Niskode-Dossett/Elizabeth A. John: Multiracial Border Work: Exploring the Relationship Between Validation, Student Involvement, and Epistemological Development – Krista M. Soria: Elevating the Academic Success of Working-class: College Students through High-impact Educational Practices – Mondrail Myrick/D. Jason DeSousa/Donald Mitchell Jr.: National Survey of Student Engagement Findings at a Historically Black Institution: Does Student Engagement Impact Persistence? – Donald Mitchell Jr.: A Grounded Theory of the Influence of Black Greek-lettered Organizations on the Persistence of African Americans at a Predominantly White Institution – Ricardo Montelongo/Helen Alatorre/Angel Hernandez/Joe Palencia/Ray Plaza/Damaris Sanchez/Stephen Santa-Ramirez: Latina/o Students and Involvement: Outcomes Associated with Latina/o Student Organizations – Krista M. Soria: First-generation College Students’ Leadership Experiences and Academic Outcomes – Jarrett Gupton/Rashné Jehangir/Jennifer Trost: Institutional Programs to Promote First-generation Student Involvement: Improving Academic and Social Outcomes – Young K. Kim/Marla F. Franco/Liz A. Rennick: An Antideficit Approach to Examining the Impact of Institutional Involvement on Select Academic Outcomes of Latino College Students – Mary J. Fischer/Deronta Spencer: College Employment and Academic Outcomes for African American Students on Elite Campuses – Georgianna L. Martin/Melandie McGee: Working to Learn or Working to Live? Exploring the Impact of Employment on College Outcomes for Low-income and First-generation Students – Angelica M. G. Palacios/J. Luke Wood/Frank Harris III: Mexicano Male Students’ Engagement with Faculty in the Community College – Robin Minthorn: Native American Student Connections to Community and Family: Impacts on Academic Outcomes – Ayana Allen: Leveraging the Cultural Wealth in Family and Friend Networks: An Examination of Undocumented Latino/a College Students’ Support Systems and Academic Achievement.