Student Involvement in Ethnic Student Organizations: Examining Civic Outcomes 6 Years After Graduation

Abstract

Few college experiences elicit as much controversy as racial/ethnic student organizations. Critics argue that these student groups promote racial division and segregation, whereas supporters counter these claims and suggest instead that they facilitate college adjustment, learning, and growth. Clearly, some students are quite predisposed to participate (or not participate) in these organizations, which can lead to significant challenges when trying to determine the impact of this form of engagement. The present study used multilevel propensity score matching analyses to explore the relationships between racial/ethnic student organizations and post-college civic outcomes within a 10-year longitudinal sample of 8,634 alumni from 229 institutions. The results indicate that participation is significantly and positively associated with numerous civic behaviors and attitudes 6 years after graduation. Moreover, these findings are similar regardless of race/ethnicity, gender, or institution.