This qualitative study explored the college experiences of five undocumented students. Using data from three in-depth interviews, the study sought to offer insights to educational leaders on the in- and out-of-class validating experiences that influenced a group of undocumented students to persist in their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Rendón’s (1994) theory of student validation provided the framework for the study. The qualitative method of critical evocative portraiture (Lyman, Lazaridou, & Strachan, 2013) was used to collect, analyze and present the data. Congruent with the methodology, the researcher constructed a critical evocative portrait of each of the participants. The portraits provide a full picture of the participants, and honor the complexity and powerful experiences of undocumented students. The findings revealed that academic and interpersonal validation overpowered adverse circumstances, and that awareness of legal status and the impact on the future developed a drive and passion for social change.
","abstract_html":"<p>This qualitative study explored the college experiences of five undocumented students. Using data from three in-depth interviews, the study sought to offer insights to educational leaders on the in- and out-of-class validating experiences that influenced a group of undocumented students to persist in their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Rendón’s (1994) theory of student validation provided the framework for the study. The qualitative method of critical evocative portraiture (Lyman, Lazaridou, & Strachan, 2013) was used to collect, analyze and present the data. Congruent with the methodology, the researcher constructed a critical evocative portrait of each of the participants. The portraits provide a full picture of the participants, and honor the complexity and powerful experiences of undocumented students. The findings revealed that academic and interpersonal validation overpowered adverse circumstances, and that awareness of legal status and the impact on the future developed a drive and passion for social change.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["García, Erica"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Ph.D.","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Susan Korach, Ed.D.","Ryan E. Gildersleeve","Kristina Hesbol","Lisa Martinez"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-03-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-03-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:03:19Z","subjects":["College persistence","Critical Evocative Portraiture","Social reform","Student Validation Theory","Undocumented students","Education","Educational Administration and Supervision","Higher Education Administration"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
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"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/227"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:rights":["Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
"],"dc:subject":["College persistence","Critical Evocative Portraiture","Social reform","Student Validation Theory","Undocumented students","Education","Educational Administration and Supervision","Higher Education Administration"],"dc:title":["The Experiences of Undocumented College Students Through Critical Evocative Portraiture"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph.D."]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:03:19Z"}