Newcomers in U.S. Higher Education: Questions of Access and Equity

Abstract

A college education has become a prerequisite for socioeconomic advancement in the United States, and yet research and policy discussions on immigrant education often have overlooked the place of newcomers in higher education. This article provides a critical examination and synthesis of current knowledge about immigrant experiences in American postsecondary institutions. It considers issues such as the demographic impact of newcomers on U.S. colleges and universities, potential inequities in college admission practices, gatekeeping and academic support of nonnative language speakers, and dynamics of collegiate enculturation for immigrants from diverse sociocultural backgrounds. The article identifies a number of areas for further research in this neglected but increasingly essential part of U.S. immigrant education.