Untapped Potential: Improving Latino Males Academic Success in Community Colleges

The plight of Latino males in higher education has gained considerable attention over the last decade. There is a growing concern about the educational experiences of male students of color in higher education, especially Latino male students. Specifically, Latino male students are beginning their postsecondary careers at community colleges, yet are trailing their White male student peers in degree completion rates. There are various factors that highlight why Latino male students are not successfully navigating the pathway to community college enrollment and degree completion. The unique challenges this segment of students face provides a compelling incentive to better understand the various factors that affect their educational success. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to provide a comprehensive discussion about the educational experiences of Latino males in community colleges. We believe this paper can provide compelling evidence for educational policymakers, community college leaders, and families to improve Latino male students' community college enrollment, participation, and degree completion. We conclude our discussion by providing recommendations to guide community college programs and policies to address the unique needs of Latino male students.