The Cultural Journeys of Rural, Poor and Working-Class College Students: Policy and Practice to Support Degree Attainment

by Ty C. McNamee

Overview

With the goal of improving efforts and initiatives to promote college completion, this book offers an engaging, in-depth analysis of the cultural journeys of rural, poor and working-class college students. By examining select student stories through the lens of cultural flexibility, cultural integration, and cultural capital and wealth, the author derives a collective understanding of how these students navigate their college experiences, informing key recommendations for practice and policy. This volume will be of interest to higher education researchers and scholars studying rurality, social class, equity, and college success and completion, as well as practitioners and policymakers looking to more effectively enroll and retain rural, poor and working-class college students.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032745091
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/15/2025
Pages:	190
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ty C. McNamee is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at the University of Mississippi, USA. Growing up a working-class, gay student in rural Wyoming influenced Ty’s research. He studies postsecondary access and success for rural students, particularly those who are poor or working-class and those who are queer, as well as college teaching and learning and faculty development at rural postsecondary institutions.

Table of Contents

1. The Importance of Focusing on Rural, Poor and Working-Class Students in Higher Education 2. Rurality, Social Class, and Culture: Considerations for Rural, Poor and Working-Class Students’ Cultural Journeys in Higher Education 3. The Cultural Journeys of Seven Rural, Poor and Working-Class Students in Higher Education 4.Toward a Collective Understanding of Rural, Poor and Working-Class Students in Higher Education 5. Using Practice and Policy to Support Rural, Poor and Working-Class Students from College Enrollment to Attainment

Editorial Reviews

"This timely book examines how rural, poor and working-class students navigate the complex cultural landscapes of U.S. higher education. Using multiple qualitative methods and cultural theoretical frameworks, this volume provides actionable recommendations and strategies for colleges and universities to support rural, poor and working-class college students, while recognizing how additional marginalized identities (e.g., students of color, LGBTQ+ students, students with disability) shape their lived experiences. I highly recommend this resource to anyone working to create more equitable and inclusive campus environments for rural, poor and working-class students."

Roy Y. Chan, Assistant Professor of Education and Ed.D. Program Director, Lee University, USA; Chair, Dissertation of the Year Award Committee, Division J Postsecondary Education, American Educational Research Association (AERA)

From the Publisher