The State of Higher Education in California: Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders
Author: Valliani, Nadia
Date: 2015-09-00
Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data
Subjects: Higher Education,Educational Attainment,Enrollment,College Freshmen,College Transfer Students,Graduation,Community Colleges,State Universities,Barriers,Access to Education,Asian American Students,Hawaiians,Pacific Americans,College Admission,Success,Poverty,Language Proficiency,College Preparation,College Readiness,First Generation College Students,Undocumented Immigrants

Approximately, 6.3 million Asian Americans and 347,501 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPIs) live in California. The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community is one that is both significant in size and in diversity. It also represents the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the state. Ensuring their access to and success in California's public higher education system is critical for the California economy. With 87 percent of Asian Americans and 73 percent of NHPIs starting their college career in one of California's public community colleges or four year universities, the impact of state funding, policy, and admissions practices are especially critical. The diversity of migration histories and experiences contributes to the contemporary social and economic conditions and educational opportunities of Asian Americans and NHPIs today. Although some Asian Americans and NHPIs have achieved success in higher education, others face significant barriers that limit their educational opportunity. There is great diversity of educational outcomes within the larger Asian American category and between Asian American and NHPI individuals. This report is a first of its kind in attempting to share a much deeper analysis of higher education outcomes within these diverse groups in California higher education. This report seeks to portray a more accurate picture of Asian Americans and NHPIs in higher education in California by analyzing data disaggregated by ethnicity when possible in order to bring to light the needs and issues facing Asian American and NHPI students. It is the hope that policymakers, business leaders, and community advocates use the information presented in this report to inform state budget and policy conversations along with encouraging targeted college practices aimed at improving educational outcomes for the Asian American and NHPI community in California. Proposed recommendations include: (1) Create a statewide plan for higher education; (2) Ensure colleges successfully move students through pre-college level courses, quickly and with improved retention rates; (3) Provide clear transfer pathways to four-year degrees; (4) Expand college knowledge in middle and high school and invest in support services students need to succeed; (5) Grow state funding to expand enrollment capacity so all California eligible students have a spot in our public higher education system; (6) Strengthen financial support options for low- to moderate-income college students; (7) Use disaggregated data to improve educational outcomes for Asian American and NHPI students. Act on closing gaps in access and success in California's public higher education system; and (8) Ensure federal funding for Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander serving institutions is focused on student support and improving student outcomes for those students. &quot;The Racial and Ethnic Categorization of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders&quot; is appended. [Joanna Lee and Michele Siqueiros contributed to this report. Additional funding was provided by the Sand Hill Foundation.]