Graduate Program

College Student Affairs

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2008

Thesis Director

James Wallace

Thesis Committee Member

Lou Hencken

Thesis Committee Member

Charles Eberly

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to ascertain the perceptions of Hispanic women concerning barriers to their career advancement to faculty and administrators in higher education institutions in the state of Illinois. Specifically, attention was given to issues of national origin, mentoring relationships, education, gender, culture, socialization, socioeconomic status, and financial compensation.

Qualitative one-on-one interview were conducted with six Hispanic women who were faculty and directors of departments at state universities. The interviews were tape recorded, transcribed into computer files, and coded to identify themes.

The findings of the present study revealed that most of the factors, excluding those dealing with gender affected most women in similar way as they moved up the career ladder. Most of the participants said that gender did not affect them in their career goals except on the issues of salary disparity and other compensations. Some of the barriers, such as socioeconomics, educational opportunities and mentorship were identified to have been factors in the pursuit of career advancement for the participants. The participants offered suggestions to facilitate careers advancement for Hispanic women faculty and administrators. For example, more money allocated to their departments to be able to publish their research work. The participants also suggested the recruitment of more Hispanics women to be able to have mentors, to socialize, thus elicit and· share ideas for the creation of pleasant and innovative work environments.

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