August 2014 Vol. 2 No.8

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Kenari AM

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Review

Expanding access to higher education for rural, Latina/o Students: Lessons from a pilot distance degree program in family science

Morteza Alibakhshi Kenari

Martyr Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran

E-mail: Morteza.Alibakhshikenari@gmail.com

Accepted August 20, 2014

Abstract

Latina/o students in rural communities face unique challenges in their efforts to pursue a 4-year college degree. I describe a 2+2 pilot program in which a large land grant university partnered with a rural community college to offer a distance Bachelor of Science degree in family studies and human development. In this program, students located near the community college attend courses both on that campus and virtually at the partnering university. I address specific experiences and lessons learned regarding the partnership required to maintain high academic standards, while being culturally responsive, and meeting the unique needs of the participating students.

Keywords: Post-Secondary Education, Distance Education, Latino Students, Higher Education Access, Rural Students