UCLA

Latinos are the largest minority in the U.S., yet they hold the least number of conferred college degrees compared to their total population. Despite these low numbers, Latinos have grown exponentially in colleges and universities. Presently, the University of California has six out of its nine undergraduate campuses designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). HSIs require a Latino student population of 25 percent or higher. It is important to note, however, that these institutions are structurally and culturally white. Latinos have been found to experience a culture shock when entering higher education (Yosso, 2005). Sixty-percent of Latino students begin their post-secondary education at community colleges, and they, too, experience what is known as transfer shock: a dip in students’ GPA when entering their senior institution. As such, tools that may mitigate these various adjustments are explored. Most college aged students do not know of a time before the world wide web. More than 90 percent of the college going population uses Facebook. Given that Latino students continue to encounter marginalizing experiences in higher education, the function of Facebook was explored for Latino community transfer students during their adjustment period.

Transfer students’ adjustment periods are one to two academic terms (Laanan, 1995). A virtual ethnography of participants’ Facebook was conducted that included semi-structured interviews that took place at the end of participants first term (December of entering year) and at the end of their second term (March and April). The study found that Facebook functioned as (a) a navigational tool, (b) coping mechanism, and (c) as a political platform and asset. Facebook as a navigational tool is important for first-generation college students. Facebook use a as a coping mechanism was important for Latino students, especially given that at the time of adjustment and transition to their senior institution, negative political rhetoric about Latinos and immigration policy. The ability to bridge social capital was particularly important for Latino transfer students, as they name family and peers a source of support. Facebook as a political tool and asset was important given the political climate—namely, Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant and dehumanizing platform—during Latino transition.