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CAPITAL GATEKEEPING OR COMMUNITY ADVOCACY: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF DIVERSITY COLLEGE ADMISSION PROFESSIONALS’ PERSEPCTIVES OF COLLEGE ACCESS IN A LOCAL URBAN CONTEXT

Bethea, Kathryn (2016) CAPITAL GATEKEEPING OR COMMUNITY ADVOCACY: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF DIVERSITY COLLEGE ADMISSION PROFESSIONALS’ PERSEPCTIVES OF COLLEGE ACCESS IN A LOCAL URBAN CONTEXT. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Race/ethnicity plays an important role in college access for urban students of color. This study explores how race/ethnicity influences college admission policies and practices, which, in turn, impacts college access. The main research question is how institutions of higher education, specifically diversity college admission professionals (DCAPs), play a crucial role in college access for local underrepresented students of color in a northeast local city school district. Using a descriptive study design, I utilize cultural capital theory and critical race theory in a combined theoretical framework to analyze the DCAPs’ narratives. The present study is a qualitative look at DCAPs’ perspectives of the interplay between sociocultural context, cultural capital, and institutional race-conscious admissions policies that impacts college access. Findings show that DCAPs are an authority on college access and have a unique perspective on local diversity recruitment and college access outreach. The DCAPs’ cultural habitus of “critical gatekeeping advocates” portrays their narrative as bicultural middle managers in college admissions. Although DCAPs are concerned about admitting students of color, they are constrained by socio-racial stratification in the P-16 educational system. Furthermore, college admission perpetuates the cultural capital and racialization in higher education. Through sharing the DCAPs’ recommendations for improving college access, I discuss ways to develop policy, programming, and praxis to promote college access and institutional diversity initiatives. The implications of the current research study will further inform how college admission impacts the college access gap.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Bethea, Kathryn kab194@pitt.edKAB194
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairWeidman, John Cweidman@pitt.eduWEIDMAN
Committee MemberBickel, Williambickel@pitt.eduBICKEL
Committee MemberGarcia, Ginaggarcia@pitt.eduGGARCIA
Committee MemberPettigrew, Chenitscpettigrew@medschool.pitt.eduCHP14
Date: 29 June 2016
Date Type: Publication
Defense Date: 31 March 2016
Approval Date: 29 June 2016
Submission Date: 24 May 2016
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages: 376
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: School of Education > Administrative and Policy Studies
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: college access, diversity recruitment, CRT, cultural capital, qualitative narrative analysis, college admissions
Date Deposited: 29 Jun 2016 13:04
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 14:33
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/27998

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