Spotlight on Six Marginalized Populations in American Higher Education

Abstract

The United States is becoming more diverse, a trend that is reflected in institutions of higher education; college campuses are filled with various subgroups of “non-traditional students,” many of whom are students from marginalized populations. Throughout history, the United States denied access to education to students from historically marginalized backgrounds and while society promises access to students today, it is not provided equally; gaps in educational access and achievement among marginalized groups persist. Some of the fastest growing subgroups of our population are least likely to succeed in higher education, because they face barriers as they navigate the university experience. This chapter spotlights the key access and persistence-related challenges faced by students from six marginalized populations: African American/Black students, students with disabilities, Hispanic/Latinx students, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, undocumented students, and student veterans.

Citation

Hoffman, J. and Toutant, S. (2018), "Spotlight on Six Marginalized Populations in American Higher Education", Hoffman, J., Blessinger, P. and Makhanya, M. (Ed.) Contexts for Diversity and Gender Identities in Higher Education: International Perspectives on Equity and Inclusion (Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, Vol. 12), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 155-168. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120180000012012