Ethnic/Racial Diversity of First-Time in College Undergraduate Student Enrollment at Texas Community Colleges: A Multiyear, Statewide Investigation

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2017-06-26

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Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this journal-ready dissertation was to examine the degree to which changes had occurred in the ethnic/racial diversity of first-time in college students who were enrolled full-time in Texas community colleges. Specifically, the ethnic/racial diversity changes (i.e., Asian, White, Hispanic, and Black) of first-time in college full-time students who were enrolled in Texas community colleges in the 1999-2000 academic year through the 2014-2015 academic year were analyzed. The degree to which differences were present in the enrollment percentages of Asian, White, Hispanic and Black first-time in college full-time students who were enrolled in Texas community colleges between the 1999-2000 and the 2014-2015 academic years was examined. The extent to which changes had occurred in the ethnic/racial diversity of first-time in college students who were enrolled part-time in Texas community colleges was examined. The degree to which differences existed in the enrollment percentages of Asian, White, Hispanic, and Black first-time in college part-time students who were enrolled in Texas community colleges between the 1999-2000 and the 2014-2015 academic years was analyzed. An analysis of the trends present in the ethnic/racial diversity (i.e., Asian, White, Hispanic, and Black) of first-time in college full-time and part-time students who were enrolled in Texas community colleges during the 1999-2000 through the 2014-2015 academic years was included in these three investigations.
ā€ƒ Method A causal-comparative research design was used for this study. Archival data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Interactive Accountability System were downloaded and analyzed for the 1999-2000 through the 2014-2015 academic years.

Findings Inferential statistical analyses revealed that over this time period, the percentage of Hispanic first-time in college full-time and part-time Texas community college students statistically significantly increased, whereas the percentage of White first-time in college full-time and part-time students statistically significantly decreased. No changes were noted with respect to either Black or Asian first-time in college full-time and part-time college students during this time period. Statistically significant increases were also present with respect to the percentage of Hispanic students (regardless of enrollment status) who were enrolled in Texas community colleges during this time period.

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