The role of Hispanic serving institutions in building social capital

This thesis provides a foundation from which to explore the question: What role does social capital plays in creating educational pathways for Latinas/os at the macro and micro level? The analysis utilizes a preliminary qualitative study of First Generation College going Latinas at HSIs, in addition to an interpretive approach of case law and an analysis of federal funding to institutes of higher education. The motivation for this analysis is driven by the persistent and growing educational gaps between Hispanics and their non-Hispanic counterparts. In most measures of educational attainment, Latinas/os rank last compared to any other racial or ethnic group. The nature of this educational disparity is rooted in historical and institutional mechanisms that have yet to receive mainstream recognition from the field of sociology. The majority of projects seeking to address educational gaps focus on the role of individuals and the barriers they face. This projects while undertaking this same analysis also incorporates the role of higher education institutions and specifically Hispanic Serving Institutions in mollifying barriers to educational access for minorities.