| Because of the explosion of the Latino youth population, HSI community colleges have the opportunity to be at the vanguard in developing effective partnerships with neighboring baccalaureate granting institutions to increase the numbers of Latino science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors (STEM). The purpose of this qualitative case study is to analyze the transfer and transition experiences of Latinos who commence their pursuit of an engineering degree at an HSI community college, transfer to a large research university, and successfully complete their first year in an engineering program.; Six subjects were interviewed for this study, and their responses were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using an inductive method. The themes that emerged from their personal, institutional, and environmental experiences at Tierra Valley Community College (TVCC) and during their transfer and transition to Southwest Metropolitan University (SMU) were used to support the findings of this study. The findings indicate that these Latino students in engineering found success in science and mathematics courses at TVCC through positive faculty validation, peer study groups, and family support. The students indicated that TVCC rigorously prepared them for the science and mathematics prerequisite courses in engineering at SMU. However, these students experienced a "transfer shock" upon transferring to SMU related to self-initiated advising, the size of engineering classrooms, and engineering course expectations. Additionally, the female subjects experienced the internalization of negative stereotypes and racial/ethnic isolation due to the male-dominated learning environment in engineering at SMU. The subjects overcame these barriers by: using past TVCC students as mentors; becoming more assertive (females); enhancing their study skills; living near SMU; utilizing the interpersonal validation of peer support networks, and, obtaining internships with engineering firms.; The significance of this study is that it reflects and expands the extant literature regarding the factors influencing the success of Latino transfer students in engineering. The study may provide a framework for other HSI community colleges and universities seeking to increase the retention and graduation rates of Latino students in the educational pipeline and STEM programs. |
