Conference

Latinx and Hispanic Perceptions of the Writing and Media Center at Iowa State

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Abstract

5.9% of the Iowa State student population identifies as Hispanic or Latinx. This number includes U.S. Citizens, Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylees but excludes international students. This population faces unique challenges at the university-level with the limited specialized services available. As undergraduate communication consultants at the Writing and Media Center (WMC), we aim to analyze the Latinx/Hispanic community's perception of Iowa State University's Writing and Media Center. We advocate for holistic student success: a common goal between all student support services at Iowa State. We are searching to learn if Hispanic and Latinx students feel the writing center is a resource for them, if they have used the writing center, and what shapes their perceptions. Through our collected survey responses and interviews, we are hoping to map the developing relationship between the Latinx/Hispanic community and writing centers. We wish to contribute to the conversation of inclusivity because we find that there is a lack of research with this population in relation to student support services. Our learning objectives are to educate students and faculty about the Iowa State WMC'ss issues of representation and outreach, especially in the WMC. We will then put our findings into practice.