Examining the Status of Equity in Undergraduate Enrollments for Black, Latino and Low-Income Students at Public Four-Year Universities and Flagship Campuses
Year: 2007
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This study extends prior research (e.g., Bensimon, Hao & Bustillos, 2006; Perna, et al., 2006) that has examined postsecondary access and equity in enrollments for underrepresented student groups. Descriptive statistics are used to examine the status of equity in undergraduate enrollments for Black, Latino and low-income students, as well as trends in the status of equity for these groups from 1994 to 2004, at public flagship campuses and at other public four-year universities. Multivariate regression analyses are used to test the study's conceptual model which explores whether a relationship exists between variables shaped by human capital and institutional isomorphism, and institutions' equity indices. This study advances understandings of the degree to which the public four-year sector is adequately enrolling students from underrepresented groups, the relationship between institutions' flagship status and the enrollment equity indices for various groups of, the relationship between the pursuit of prestige and equity in undergraduate enrollments, and how variables within institutions' purview of control are related to their enrollment equity indices. The study's findings suggest that Black, Latino and low-income students do not achieve equity in undergraduate enrollments at public four-year universities or flagship campuses in a majority of states. In most states, Black and low-income students are more likely to achieve equity at public four year universities than at flagships, while Latinos are more likely to achieve equity at flagship campuses than at other public four-year universities. Of all three student groups, however, low-income students are most likely to be underrepresented in undergraduate enrollments at both public four-year universities and flagship campuses. The descriptive analyses also show that, over a 10-year period, the enrollment equity indices for Black and Latino students have decreased at public four-year institutions and flagship campuses in a majority of states. Conversely, the enrollment equity indices for low-income students increased at public four-year and flagship universities in a majority of states during the same time period. However, despite the upward trend in the enrollment equity indices for low-income students, in 2004 this group achieved equity at public four-year universities in only five states and at the public flagship university in only one state. The results of the multivariate analyses suggest that a relationship exists between human capital and institutional isomorphism variables, and the enrollment equity indices for Black, Latino and low-income students. The analyses also reveal a statistically significant negative relationship between institutions' flagship status and their enrollment equity indices for Black and low-income students, but not for Latino students. The study's findings have implications for policy, practice and research. Specifically, the findings underscore the need to examine the status of equity within state-specific contexts, and to calculate separate equity indices for different institutional sectors. The study also identifies several directions for future research.
Author: Danette Gerald
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: North Dakota State University, Purdue University, City University of New York, Cleveland State University, Clemson University, East Tennessee State University, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Southern Mississippi, Bowling Green State University, University of Miami, Wayne State University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Pennsylvania, Ohio State University, Jackson State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Oklahoma State University, Syracuse University, Texas Tech University, Western Michigan University, University of Missouri, Boise State University, University of Minnesota, Mississippi State University, State University of New York, Arizona State University, Arkansas State University, Auburn University, Michigan State University, University of Connecticut, University of Washington, Tulane University, Indiana State University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Louisville, University of Oklahoma, University of Cincinnati, University of Wyoming, Grand Valley State University, South Dakota State University, Louisiana State University, Dartmouth College, Pennsylvania State University, Ball State University, Coastal Carolina University, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Montana, Middle Tennessee State University, Central Michigan University, University of Akron, Northern Arizona University, University of South Carolina, University of North Texas, Iowa State University, Western Kentucky University, Montana State University, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Oregon State University, College of Charleston, Northern Kentucky University, Idaho State University, Youngstown State University, Michigan Technological University, University of Worcester, Towson University, Salisbury University, Morgan State University, University of Southern Maine, University of Louisiana Monroe, University of Montevallo, Arkansas Tech University, University of Central Arkansas, Southern Arkansas University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, University of Northern Iowa, Emporia State University, Kent State University, University of Bradford, Rhode Island College, Temple University, Northern Michigan University, Truman State University, University of Central Missouri, Illinois State University, Westfield State University, University of Nebraska Kearney, Lewis-Clark State College, University of South Alabama, University of South Dakota, University of Memphis, Augusta University, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Saginaw Valley State University, Austin Peay State University, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Eastern Michigan University, Louisiana Tech University, West Chester University, York University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Center for Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, Air Force Institute of Technology
OpenAlex ID: W196946055