Latino Students at ISU

This research project aims to understand the overall attitudes Latino students have toward Illinois State University. Our research revolves around the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), MSAC, significant Latino retention rate drop, and overall Latino student involvement on campus. These all lead to students’ perceptions about the Latino community at ISU. Using interviews directed at both students and faculty, we have found that the four main reasons for a drop in Latino retention numbers are because of money, disorientation, language ability and first generation college student dilemmas. Furthermore, three other important reasons that show why students join Latino based organizations on campus is the ability to meet and interact with other Latino students, the inclusion of one’s own culture in daily college life, and keeping Latino traditions alive within our generation. After conducting several interviews within the Latino student community, we deduced that most individuals are part of ALAS because of a “home away from home” factor.unpublishedLimitedEUI participants only