Madison Hispanic Caucus (MHC): Impact and Retention of Hispanic Faculty and Staff
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/ke4kme83Keywords:
Affinity groups, Comunidad, Diversity, Higher education institutions, Hispanic faculty and staff, Peer networks, Sense of belongingAbstract
Knowing by first-hand experience how difficult it can be to be a minority on campus, we, as the authors, focus on the impact of having a Hispanic caucus for faculty and staff in a predominantly white institution. This study explores the impact of the caucus on its members, both professionally and personally. It also examines how caucus’ membership helps build a comunidad on and off campus. Our findings indicate that the caucus positively impacts its members and allows them to build a comunidad, networks, and collaborations. We concluded that affinity groups are vital for underrepresented populations. Therefore, higher education institutions should prioritize allocating resources and creating safe and inclusive spaces specifically for Hispanic faculty and staff.
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