Interactional Diversity in Border Colleges

Abstract

Research about the benefits of interactional diversity in college has been conducted at various U.S. institutions, but little research has focused on border colleges. This study explores the extent to which students at U.S.-Mexico border institutions reported having cross-racial and cross-ethnic interactions that researchers suggest promote academic and social development. To that end, the authors investigated how students identify by race and ethnicity, how frequently and where they interact with peers from other races and ethnicities, and how they view those interactions.

Investigación acerca de los beneficios de contacto diverso en universidades se ha llevado a cabo en varias instituciones estadounidenses, pero muy poca investigación ha enfocado en universidades fronterizas. Este estudio explora hasta que grado estudiantes en instituciones de la frontera de México-Estados Unidos reportan tener contactos con razas y nacionalidades diferentes que a sugerencia de los investigadores promueven desarrollo social y académico. Con este objeto investigamos como se identifican los estudiantes de acuerdo a raza y nacionalidad; que tan frecuente y donde se comunican con compañeros de otra raza y nacionalidad; y cómo ven esos contactos.

Keywords

interactional diversity U.S.-Mexico border border colleges undergraduate students academic development social development race and ethnicity

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