ABSTRACT
Student engagement in higher education has been shown time and again to positively impact academic outcomes. Similarly, postsecondary students’ sense of belonging has been tied to more favorable academic outcomes, whereas feelings of alienation and isolation can contribute to decreased engagement and, in turn, attrition. While engagement and belonging have been found to be important to student success at predominantly White institutions, less is known about the practices of engagement and belonging at Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs). In this chapter, we will present one culturally responsive student success framework launched at an open-access, research-intensive HSI with a student population that is more than 80% Latinx, 50% first-generation, and 70% Pell Grant–eligible. The framework – developed by a team of faculty, staff, and students – utilizes an asset-based lens and reflective practice for teaching and student support, and it serves as the basis for key institutional strategies for fostering greater engagement in high-impact practices among a predominantly nonresidential student population. The framework presented in this chapter has important implications for student success strategy development among institutions serving Latinx populations, especially emerging and fully designated HSIs across the country.
