The Function of Cultural Student Clubs in Student Adjustment to College

Using ethnographic methods, I explore the issue of cultural identity maintenance among college students who are members of cultural minorities. The students in my study seek to maintain cultural identity in order to aid them in their transition to the college context. In their home communities, the cultures with which these students identify were well-represented. However, in the college context, these cultures are underrepresented. Students use cultural student clubs to aid them in maintaining cultural identity and utilize different strategies for balancing club responsibilities with academic responsibilities. The findings are related to research in identity theory, including the constraint of time in the analysis. The time and effort students spend in participating in club activities would seem to detract from their academic endeavors. However, my research finds that participating in these clubs provides certain benefits that help students in their academic endeavors.