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ERIC Number: EJ893668
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 24
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0271-0579
EISSN: N/A
Campus Climate in the Twenty-First Century: Estimating Perceptions of Discrimination at a Racially Mixed Institution, 1994-2006
Miller, Berkeley; Sujitparapitaya, Sutee
New Directions for Institutional Research, n145 p29-52 Spr 2010
Numerous studies have found that minority students do experience insensitive if not discriminatory behavior on college campuses, and students who experience such behavior report lower levels of social integration and institutional commitment. However, there are at least two limitations to much of the campus climate literature. First, virtually all studies documenting discriminatory experiences have been conducted at predominantly white institutions (PWI). There is very little information on minority experiences at racially mixed institutions (RMI), that is, institutions where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the student body. Second, with very few exceptions, the links between discrimination and drop-out behavior have not been directly established. Most studies rely on cross-sectional survey data and at best establish an association between discriminatory experiences and lower commitment, and not between such experiences and actual departure at the individual level. The literature seems to assume that because minorities report higher discrimination than whites, and minorities have higher departure rates than whites, discrimination is causing the higher minority departure rates. This article addresses both limitations. The authors use survey data to compare the experiences of minority students at a public, racially mixed master's institution located on the West Coast. A Student Needs and Priorities Survey (SNAPS) was administered by the institution in 1994, 1999, and 2006. The survey asked, among many other questions, whether students over the past year had personally experienced or directly observed insensitive behavior or remarks based on race or ethnicity and a variety of other personal characteristics. The survey also asked students to evaluate their overall campus experience, and whether or not they would choose the university again or recommend it to others. In addition, the authors are able to track a sample of respondents to see whether those who report a higher level of discrimination actually have lower persistence and graduation rates. The results of the data analysis will be used to evaluate the campus climate literature. (Contains 7 tables.)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A