"Count It All"Overcoming Barriers in Increasing Diversity with Caribbean Students

by

Kenneth B. Tellis, FAMU

ICE BREAKER

Name The Country Who’s Flag is Shown

Overview of Caribbean and Latin

Examples of Countries

Latin America

• Mexico• Brazil• Colombia• Peru• Venezuela• Costa Rica• Panama

Caribbean

• Jamaica• Bahamas• British Virgin Islands• Dominican Republic• Trinidad & Tobago• Haiti• Barbados

Overview of Caribbean and Latin

Caribbean Central America South America0

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Chart Title

2012/13 2013/14 Column1

Overview of Caribbean and Latin

Market Segment Leaders

• Jamaica (Caribbean)

• Brazil (South America)

• Mexico (Central America)

Key Terms

• Caribbean nations• Latin America• Culture• Cultural Norms• CXC• College Search

Research Questions

• Do cultural differences have a significant impact on the decision making process for potential college students in Latin American and Caribbean markets?

• What factors or elements within these respective cultures have the largest influence on the decision making process for first-time in college applicants from these markets?

Through the Enrollment Goals Lense

• Total international student enrollment in 2012/2013 reached 819,644 students, an all-time high, and a seven percent increase from the previous year.

• Still, international students comprise not quite four percent of total student enrollment, at the undergraduate and graduate levels combined. (USA Academy, 2015).

Larger Relevance (Globalization)

• Due to the recent globalization of the economy, it is perceived that students with international experience have a competitive edge in the job market.

• Believing these statements to be true, international students feel there are many advantages to studying in the United States.

Diversity, pluralism, and enrichment

• Typically we as educational professionals widely agree on the benefits of diversity on campus.

Diversity, pluralism, and enrichment

• Do all institutions h consider the possible issues or barriers that international students face in deciding to study in the U.S.?

Availability of College Ready Students Performance Trends on CXC

Availability of College Ready Students (PISA Assessment)

• According to their 2012 study, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) found that Brazil leads all countries in Math performance gains.

Research Questions

• Do cultural differences have a significant impact on the decision making process for potential college students in Latin American and Caribbean markets?

• What factors or elements within these respective cultures have the largest influence on the decision making process for first-time in college applicants from these markets?

INTERACTIVE FEEDBACK

• Challenges that you feel your college or university faces with regard to international recruitment.

• Cultural (marketing with understanding)

• Operational (processing)

• Resource allocation (materials, travel..)

Cultural Factors Latin American Market

• CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICSA cultural description of Spanish-speaking people should include an understanding of certain values and traits:

• Hispanic/Latino students typically come from families that:

*value and respect family and relationships

* have strong religious values (faith-based)

* place the needs of family above individual

FAMU Latin American Market Approaches

Financial Concerns

A survey sample of deans at Florida A&M University was conducted in early Spring semester of 2015.

It was found that there had been a marked increase in prospective students from countries such as Brazil when financial incentives had been advertised and promoted.

Latin American Market Approaches Social Cultural Concerns

One of the primary concerns that was found in a

convenience survey of a small sampling of FAMU students from Latin countries was that university literature was not available in Spanish.

It was also noted that it would perhaps be helpful to have Web Site information available in Spanish and Portuguese for parents and family members to view.

Cultural Factors for Caribbean Market

• Jamaicans, for example, cherish traditional family values, such as practicing religion, respecting elders and being with one's family in times of need,

• The emotional bond between parents and children is very strong, often stronger than between spouses.

Read more: http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Ha-La/Jamaican-Americans.html#ixzz3TrJKWDCB

Caribbean Market Approaches

Financial Concerns

A survey sample of deans at Florida A&M University was conducted in early Spring semester of 2015.

It was found that there had been a marked increase in enrollment of students from Caribbean countries when financial incentives had been utilized.

Caribbean Market Approaches

• Social Cultural Concerns

Housing information should be as detailed as possible; as ability to be part of a community are often a major concern for students and parents.

Availability of cultural foods (both prepared and groceries)…..as well as information about student organizations, and events (on and off-campus)

Geographical Challenges

Informational BarriersLatin American Households with Internet

Reach Out During School Hours

Informational BarriersCaribbean Households with Internet

Overcoming Barriers By Your Message

Florida A&M’s Caribbean Student Club

CONCLUSION

• The importance of culture in Caribbean lives is reflected in all the current educational reform initiatives. In many ways, reformation has also accounted for increased academic performance in countries like Brazil.

• With regard to cultural differences, however, much remains to be accomplished by some colleges and universities in the U.S. in terms effectively communicating across cultural and other barriers.

Discussion About University Initiatives

Wrap Up-Further Research

• Possible ways and means to quantify and express enrollment potential and innovative approaches to your administration.

References

• Buddington, S. A. (2002). Acculturation, psychological adjustment (stress, depression, self esteem) and

the academic achievement of Jamaican immigrant college students. International Social Work.

• Louisy*, D. P. (2004). Whose context for what

quality? Informing education strategies for the Caribbean. Compare, 34(3), 285-292.

•Sarkodie-Mensah, K. (1998). International students in the US: Trends, cultural adjustments, and solutions for a better experience. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 214-222.

About The Use of Agents

• “There is no question that we are seeing more corporate entanglements when it comes to recruitment of international students,” says Barmak Nassirian, associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

Redden, E. (2010). From taboo to hot topic. Inside Higher Ed, 1.