Disparities in Student Misconduct in Higher Education for Students From Underrepresented Racial Backgrounds or Non-Citizen Visa Status

Abstract

Disciplinary charges and sanctions at the K–12 level that previously demonstrated racial bias toward underrepresented racial groups (URGs) in both the severity of charge and sanction in the literature may continue to higher education; URGs received higher charges and sanctions in similar cases involving their White peers. We analyzed 4,761 disciplinary cases over seven years to determine if race, sex, or citizenships played a predictive role in severity of charge and sanction at a predominantly White institution. White students received higher charges than students from URGs. URGs received higher sanctions. URGs status predicted both higher charge and sanctions when less severe.