"Paving Effective Community College Pathways by Recognizing the Latino Post-Traditional Student"

Assistant Professor Constance Iloh is sole author of a newly published article in the Journal of Latinos and Education: "Paving Effective Community College Pathways by Recognizing the Latino Post-Traditional Student.” Professor Iloh studies the changing landscape of postsecondary education and its impact on underrepresented students.

Abstract

Community colleges are the primary destination for Latinos entering higher education. Unfortunately, this is also the sector where the greatest likelihood of interruption to Latino college educational attainment and completion occurs. In this paper, the author argues that the growing Latino “non-traditional” student population must be better recognized and prioritized for community colleges to increase their effectiveness for Latino students. In particular, the author highlights the critical role of community colleges in educating underserved post-traditional students, the unique identities, motivations, and challenges of Latino post-traditional students, and new directions for improving conditions in the community college sector.