Somali Students' Experiences in a Major University: A Qualitative Case Study

Research on Somali students experiences is very limited and has been focused mainly on school-age children rather than college students despite their increasing presence in U.S. higher education. So far little is known about the circumstances of those in postsecondary education. The purpose of this...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author Abokor, Abdillahi H
Format Dissertation
LanguageEnglish
Published ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2016
Subjects
Adolescents
Asian American Students
Black studies
Dropouts
Educational Attainment
Educational leadership
Educational Needs
High School Graduates
Higher education
Higher Education Administration
Learner Engagement
Literature Reviews
Research Methodology
School Holding Power
Student Experience
Undergraduate Students
Urban Schools
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Summary:Research on Somali students experiences is very limited and has been focused mainly on school-age children rather than college students despite their increasing presence in U.S. higher education. So far little is known about the circumstances of those in postsecondary education. The purpose of this study was to explore Somali students experiences in a major U.S. university. It particularly investigated the challenges undergraduate Somali students face in college and the support they receive in order to cope with those challenges. A qualitative case study methodology was employed to examine the lived experiences of ten students who participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews, which were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Findings of the study indicate that Somali students encounter many obstacles in college. The study also found that students cope with their challenges in various ways by drawing support from their institution, family, peers, faith and community, who provide them remarkable social capital and resilience. Findings will have implications for both practice and policy by providing an understanding of the obstacles Somali students encounter in U.S. colleges, as well as directions for future research. They will also be significant for research in that they will contribute to the literature by addressing the existing knowledge gap. Recommendations were made in light of the outcomes of the study in terms of ways that could be helpful for students to overcome their challenges.
ISBN:1369370113
9781369370119