Undocumented students in the United States continue to face unique barriers to postsecondary success. One way that community colleges and 4-year institutions are providing support for undocumented students is establishing undocumented student resource centers (USRCs). These emerging identity-based centers are dedicated spaces of support and provide customized, comprehensive resources for undocumented college students. A multipronged theoretical framework that included undocu-competence, the institutionalization process, and critical theory, was used as a lens to examine how USRC professionals and affiliates understand the development, role, and function of a USRC on a California community college campus. Qualitative single case study methods, including in-depth semistructured interviews, observations, and document analysis, were utilized to meet the purpose of the study. The findings revealed three primary themes. First, the institutionalization process of the USRC at the center of this study was complex, imperfect, and ongoing. Second, there are strengths and limitations respective to the USRC's capacity to operationalize support and safety. Finally, the compounded impact of the current socio-political moment cannot be evaded with respect to the USRC's function. Subsequently, three primary points of discussion are explored, including critiquing the process of USRC institutionalization, complicating the notion of safe spaces on campuses, and calling for inside-outside strategies of support in order to best serve undocumented students.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc1707246 |
| Date | 08 1900 |
| Creators | Tapia-Fuselier, Nicholas |
| Contributors | Harbour, Clifford, Baldwin, Veronica, Tran-Parsons, Uyen, Wolgemuth, Jennifer |
| Publisher | University of North Texas |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | viii, 193 pages, Text |
| Rights | Public, Tapia-Fuselier, Nicholas, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights Reserved. |
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