A study of Caribbean students’ experiences at U.S. institutions
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Hazael Andrew (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Silvia Bettez
Abstract: There is limited research that examines the experiences of Caribbean students despite the increased presence of international students attending institutions of higher education in the United States. This qualitative dissertation used individual interviews and a focus group to explore the academic, cultural, social, and racial experiences of Caribbean students pursuing their undergraduate studies in the United States. Eighteen students from English, French, Spanish, and Dutch-speaking Caribbean islands, all of who were currently attending or recently graduated from four distinct institutions of higher education in the United States, including three predominantly white institutions and one Hispanic-serving institution, were represented in this study. By using a postcolonial theoretical lens to analyze the collected data, this study illuminates Caribbean students’ resilient nature and challenges educators to consider the nuanced factors that play a critical role in the students’ experiences. The stories told throughout this study suggested that, while Caribbean students come from the same region, there are both commonalities and differences within their experiences; the context surrounding their racial experiences are multilayered; their academic, cultural, and social experiences are closely linked to salient aspects of their Caribbean identity; and their experiences do not always align with the typical results of other research about international students at U.S. higher education institutions. The findings suggest a need for deeper understanding among educators and institutions as it relates to the uniqueness of students who come from the Caribbean region.
A study of Caribbean students’ experiences at U.S. institutions
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Created on 12/1/2019
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2019
- Keywords
- Caribbean, Culture, Higher Education, Hispanic, International students, Race
- Subjects
- West Indian students $x Education (Higher) $z United States
- Students, Foreign $x Education (Higher) $z United States
- Foreign study $z United States