Winner of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education Edited Volume Book of the Year Award The growing population of engineering students who identify as Latin* are underrepresented in the field of engineering. Latin* refers to an individual of Latin American origin or descent, without restricting to a specific gender. The asterisk (*) includes related identity terms such as Latina/é/o/u/x.There is, however, a rising need to train U.S. students in engineering skills to meet the demands of our increasingly technological workforce. Structurally excluding Latin* students hinders their economic and educational opportunities in engineering. Latin* Students in Engineering examines the state of Latin* engineering education at present as well as considerations for policy and practice regarding engineering education aimed at enhancing opportunity and better serving Latin* students. The essays in this volume first consider, theoretically and empirically, the experiences of Latin* students in engineering education and then expand beyond the student level to focus on institutional and social structures that challenge Latin* students' success and retention. Finally, it illuminates emergent work and considers future research, policy, and practice.  

What is the true value of a college education? In this thought-provoking book, acclaimed cultural critic and professor of literature Richard Ohmann and noted critical scholar and pedagogue Ira Shor challenge the widely accepted notion of the "college premium": the economic advantage associated with obtaining a college degree. The authors show how the idea of a college premium is often merely a myth that furthers the commercialization of education. Drawing on historical analysis and keen insights, they expose the underlying neoliberal ideology that has transformed universities into vehicles for profit-driven corporations. They argue that the college premium confirms class hierarchies in the United States while claiming to apply to everyone. This compelling narrative uncovers the reshaping of our perception of the value of higher education. From the casualization of academic labor to the mounting burden of student debt, from the erosion of academic freedoms to the rise of vocational curricula, Ohmann and Shor connect the dots to illustrate how economic imperatives have influenced university life. Is College Worth It?is a must-read for students, parents, policymakers, and anyone concerned with the future of education. Ohmann and Shor's erudite analysis challenges conventional wisdom and offers a fresh perspective on the true meaning and worth of a college education.

An illuminating look at the emotional costs of mobility faced by first-generation and low-income college students.   While college initiates a major transition in all students' lives, low-income and first-generation students attending elite schools are often entering entirely new worlds. Amid the financial and academic challenges of adapting to college, their emotional lives, too, undergo a transformation. Surrounded by peers from different classes and cultural backgrounds, they are faced with an impossible choice: turn away from their former lives to blend in or stay true to themselves and remain on the outside. An ethnography that draws on in-depth interviews with one hundred and fifty first-generation and low-income students across eighteen elite institutions, Polished uncovers the hidden consequences of the promise of social mobility in today's educational landscape. Sociologist Melissa Osborne reveals how the very support designed to propel first-generation students forward can unexpectedly reshape their identities, often putting them at odds with their peers and families. Without direct institutional support, this emotional journey can lead to alienation, mental health challenges, poor academic outcomes, and difficult choices between upward mobility or maintaining authenticity and community. Whether you're an educator, advocate, or student, Polished provides a powerful perspective on the uncharted challenges of social mobility and personal identity during college.  

Published in association with In 2017, Bret Eynon and Laura M. Gambino released High-Impact ePortfolio Practice, which drew broad acclaim from faculty and educational leaders. "An instant classic," wrote one reviewer. "The book I've been waiting for!" exclaimed another. With compelling evidence of the impact of ePortfolio "done well," and a practical framework for educators to follow, this research study quickly led to the formal recognition of ePortfolio as a validated High Impact Practice. Now, with Catalyst in Action: Case Studies of High-Impact ePortfolio Practice, Eynon and Gambino have taken the next step. The book offers 20 powerful case studies, drawn from campuses ranging from Bronx Community College to Yale University, from the University of South Carolina, to Dublin University and Arizona State. In High Impact ePortfolio Practice, Eynon and Gambino outlined the Catalyst Framework, spotlighting the strategies needed to launch, build and sustain a "high-impact" ePortfolio practice. Linking integrative social pedagogy to technology, assessment and professional development, the Catalyst Framework offers guiding principles and classroom-based ePortfolio practices that improve student success, deepen the student learning experience, and catalyze learning-centered institutional change. In Catalyst in Action, teams of faculty and college leaders detail their experiences exploring and testing the Framework on their campuses. Working with diverse groups of students in a broad range of disciplines and settings, the case study authors put Eynon and Gambino's integrative strategies into practice. Catalyst in Actionshares their findings and their insights. As higher education enters a challenging new era, it must find new ways adapt and change, to support and demonstrate student growth and development. Catalyst in Actionis a powerful combination of intensive research and practical experiencing. Offering exciting new evidence and fresh new insights, Catalyst in Actionwill be an invaluable resource for those who wish to build student success, advance higher learning, and meet the demands of the 21st century.