Latinos, a growing population on U.S. college campuses, historically have had lower college enrollment and four-year degree-attainment rates than other racial/ethnic groups. The Latino Student Success Pilot (LSSP) is a novel program designed to support first-generation low-income students of Latino origins at Rhode Island College (RIC) – an institution ranked in the top ten in the nation for closing the gap between White and Latino graduation rates.
This report, based on a mixed–methods study funded by Lumina Foundation, examines the successes and challenges of RIC’s LSSP program. We hope the recommendations will also inspire other institutions of higher education to consider integration and retention strategies for an increasingly diverse student body.