Factors influencing first-generation Mexican-American college students' persistence at the University of Texas at Austin

This study collected data from eighteen first generation Mexican American college sophomore students at the University of Texas at Austin. The group of student participants included male and female, various academic discipline majors such as mathematics, communication, engineering, business and nursing. The average age was nineteen years old with about 50 percent living off-campus and 80 percent working part-time. The goal of this study is to analyze the factors that influence the persistence of first generation Mexican American college students in order to enhance existing university strategies that strive at increasing the number of Latino/a college persistence and graduation.; The results indicated that several factors contribute to first generation Mexican American students' persistence. For instance, faculty of color interaction, institutional support, campus climate, peer group support, membership in ethnic student organizations, enrollment in multicultural courses, personal study skills and goals, high school academic preparation, and family support. Although, the factors influencing the persistence of students in this study varied the most prominent factors for most students were peer group support, personal goal to earn a college degree, self-confidence and motivation to graduate, strong sense of belonging to the UT Austin student community, and the mentoring of faculty of color.; This study suggests the need to further study the persistence and impact of college on Latino/a students. This study also addresses incorporating recommendations based on the findings of this study to enhance the persistence of Latino students especially in Texas and California public universities that have eliminated the use of race for admissions and scholarships with the Hopwood decision and Proposition 209 respectively. In addition, this study recommends the need to incorporate contemporary studies of Latino/a college persistence and its impact on society such as having an undereducated Hispanic labor force especially since the United States Hispanic population is expected to increase as a major component of society particularly in states such as California and Texas.