Hispanic male student success at California Catholic colleges

This study focused on the needs of male Hispanic college and university students for them to persevere to graduation. Interviews were structured to answer what the fundamental themes or approaches are for Hispanic males to successfully persist and graduate from a four-year Catholic college in California. The central research question was sub divided to pertain to the two groups of participants. Four administrators from Catholic colleges were asked what they believed the main student success attributes and themes were which contribute to Hispanic males graduating from California Catholic colleges. Five Hispanic males who graduated from California Catholic colleges were asked what they believe were important attributes to their persisting to graduation. The interviews were transcribed into digital format. The NVivo matrix coding showed that the results of the interviews were varied between the groups and showed that financial barriers were the only symmetrical attribute in this study. Disparate attributes included: first-generation students, no specific programs for Hispanic males, lack of persistence analytics for Hispanic males, lower socio economic status, student engagement, family support, peer support, and Catholic Higher Education Values. The research concluded that there is a lack of knowledge and targeted effort on the behalf of California Catholic colleges and universities reported in this study that cater to the specific needs of Hispanic males.