NonTraditional Hispanic College Students' Perceptions of Their Sense of Belonging at a 2-Year College in Southwest Texas

Nontraditional Hispanic College Students’ Perceptions of Their Sense of Belonging at a 2-Year College in Southwest Texas by Ronald E. Zawacki-Maldonado EdD. , Nova Southeastern University, 1998 M.Ed, Sul Ross State University, 1992 BS, State University College at Buffalo, 1980 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy General Psychology Walden University December 2014 Abstract The purpose of this study was to understand how a sense of belonging contributes to graduation persistence among nontraditional Hispanic college students. The collectivist culture among these adult learners often results in family and work obligations that curtail their pursuit of higher education. The voices of these students are mostly absent in the current literature and warrant the current research study. Sense of belonging and retention theory formed the conceptual framework for this phenomenological study. A purposeful sample of 16 nontraditional Hispanic students enrolled in a 2-year community college in Southwest Texas participated in interviews. Data analysis focused on themes from the participants’ responses to a series of open-ended questions. Four themes emerged: financial difficulties, college schedules, flexibility in work-school schedule, and family obligations. From the perspectives of these students, their basic needs did not differ from the needs of the traditional college students enrolled in 2-year community college; however, they perceived their access to the college’s resources and services seemed to be greater than that of traditional students. These findings suggest that, inThe purpose of this study was to understand how a sense of belonging contributes to graduation persistence among nontraditional Hispanic college students. The collectivist culture among these adult learners often results in family and work obligations that curtail their pursuit of higher education. The voices of these students are mostly absent in the current literature and warrant the current research study. Sense of belonging and retention theory formed the conceptual framework for this phenomenological study. A purposeful sample of 16 nontraditional Hispanic students enrolled in a 2-year community college in Southwest Texas participated in interviews. Data analysis focused on themes from the participants’ responses to a series of open-ended questions. Four themes emerged: financial difficulties, college schedules, flexibility in work-school schedule, and family obligations. From the perspectives of these students, their basic needs did not differ from the needs of the traditional college students enrolled in 2-year community college; however, they perceived their access to the college’s resources and services seemed to be greater than that of traditional students. These findings suggest that, in order to support nontraditional Hispanic students, institutions must provide access to support services beyond the business-hour model. Nontraditional Hispanic College Students’ Perceptions of Their Sense of Belonging at a 2-Year College in Southwest Texas by Ronald E. Zawacki-Maldonado EdD. , Nova Southeastern University, 1998 M.Ed, Sul Ross State University, 1992 BS, State University College at Buffalo, 1980 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy General Psychology Walden University December 2014 Dedication In memory of those who have gone before me and whose only remaining gifts are the memories and love through my lifetime. Family, extended family, and friends to whom I am grateful for their paths intertwined with mine. In memory of Eugene C. Zawacki, my father who never fully fulfilled his dreams and aspirations but through my successes celebrated his dreams. In memory of my older brother, Allen C. Zawacki, to whom I turned for inspiration, guidance, and protection from the childhood boogie man; he was my childhood hero. Born on my 12 birthday, Laura Ann Janusz, whose time with us was too short. My Uncle Edward and Aunt Helen Zawacki, who filled many Saturdays with shopping trips to the grocery and those occasional Good Humor treats in the back seat of the Chrysler Imperial. Eugene Kuziemkowsky, better known as my Uncle Gene and Godfather who was survived by his wife Irene, sister to my mother, Adeline; Uncle Gene always came to my rescue! Frs. Domingo, David, Eddie, John, OMI, from whom much spiritual guidance filled my pathways. Maria B Maldonado, whose precious treasure—but who never saw its fruition with her surviving husband Herman Maldonado—four children who embraced me as their brother; my extended family. I am sure that God has crowned Maria with the joy of peaceful rest and eternal happiness. All I ask of Ultima Maria is when you look down upon those of us that remain behind is that you smile at what your labor has wrought and rejoice in His name until He calls us home to be with you. In honor of St Jude Thaddeus, my patron saint, St Tomas Aquinas, scholarly doctor of the Church, and to the angel, Uriel, keeper of the light of wisdom. Hail Holy Queen, blessed is your gift. Acknowledgments I wish to thank my committee members for their constant guidance and persistence in helping develop my scholarly voice and leading me on a path of joining the community of scholarly practitioners and agents of positive social change. Thank you, Dr. Rachel Moore, Committee Chair, Dr. Barbara Chappell, Committee Member, and Dr. Tony Wu, on behalf of the Walden University’s URR, for your encouragement, patience, and direction in this monumental endeavor. While I recognize the members of the scholarly community whose efforts helped forge this success, I would be deeply remised in my obligations if I did not acknowledge my family for their sacrifices, emotional, spiritual, and physical support over this course of this journey. It’s not the first time we have engaged in pursuing a scholarly goal of a terminal degree, and now with a second terminal degree, the PhD in Psychology, no words can express my appreciation, respect, and love for those who have dealt with my ups and downs of rejections and revisions, open-heart surgery, and day-to-day change of plans because of the time and effort required to achieve this goal. Thank you Linda, Norma, and Nena, three special people in my life—mi familia—Gracias por todas las cosas que has dado; regalos emocionales, espirituales y fisicos y sacrificios a verme a