Assimilation in Education Latine Student Voices and Perceptions of Student Success

College and university campuses remain places where Latine students navigate the influence of assimilation to U.S. American values in their educational environments, impacting their educational experiences and perceptions of what defines “student success.” As Latine students quickly become a greater presence on college and university campuses in the U.S., new insight into their experiences can uncover different perspectives on the U.S. and its education system. This study explores the role that assimilation plays in Latine students’ education in order to help researchers and students contextualize students’ everyday experiences within the U.S. education system. The findings are also relevant for colleges and universities to better address the needs of Latine students as their numbers continue to grow while outpacing the resources allocated to students’ success. I ask: How do Latine students define and navigate assimilation in education in their own words? How do Latine students’ educational experiences inform their perceptions of student success? Through interviews with thirty (30) Latine university students, this study is designed to center the voices and experiences of Latine students in academic inquiry pertaining to the role of the U.S. education system in maintaining the status quo through assimilation to particular U.S. American values. The results illuminate how Latine students navigate barriers to their educational attainment and success, create their own spaces within the education system, and define student success for themselves, providing insight into possibilities for more equitable educational experiences for Latine students in U.S. schools.