Moscas en La Leche: A Critical Evaluation of Hispanic-Serving Institution Campus Spaces Through Photovoice Methodology

The Hispanic-Serving Institution designation is based on enrollment with the overarching goal to ensure specialized support for Hispanic students. Despite the intentional funding, some institutions reap the financial benefits while not bolstering resources and support for the Hispanic population, or at least without seeing positive outcomes. Past research has illustrated this through dollars spent per student by racial category and with analysis of student support programs. The purpose of this study is to investigate perceptions of Hispanic students on the physical space (i.e. facilities, classrooms, and art) of campuses, seeking to understand how students’ experiences at HSIs are influenced by their perception of physical space. In this study, we utilize photovoice methodology to conduct a single-institution case study approach, focusing on a four-year research university that has been designated as an HSI in the southwest United States. We find that some physical spaces like the library, football stadiums, and academic colleges on HSI campuses are causing distress amongst the Hispanic student population resulting in students purposefully avoiding important student support spaces.