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Dissertation
Bridging policy and practice: leaders of Hispanic-serving institutions and federal policymaking
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Sep 2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00011162
Abstract
Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) play a critical role in advancing Latino student success in higher education, yet their leaders remain absent from federal policymaking processes. This qualitative case study explores how HSI administrators engage with federal policy, the barriers they face, and strategies to bridge the gap between policy and practice. Guided by Cultural Process Theory, Sensemaking Theory, and Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework, with additional insights from Rational Choice Theory, the study draws on semi-structured interviews with ten senior higher education leaders across eight states and Puerto Rico. Findings highlight limited direct engagement with federal policymakers, with most interactions mediated through government relations offices or advocacy organizations. Institutional barriers such as limited staffing, resource constraints, and an institutional culture that emphasizes grant acquisition over policy advocacy further inhibit direct participation in policymaking. Despite these challenges, participants expressed a strong desire for greater involvement in federal policy and called for structured mechanisms such as policy fellowships, advisory councils, and national networks to enhance HSI representation. This study contributes to higher education policy literature by illustrating how institutional dynamics, political unpredictability, and structural barriers shape HSI leaders' policymaking engagement. It offers actionable insights for both institutional leaders and federal policymakers. Recommendations include expanding access to federal decision-making spaces, building institutional capacity for sustained advocacy, and strengthening the research-to-policy pipeline. By bridging the divide between federal policy development and institutional practice, these strategies can help ensure that policies reflect the needs of HSIs and the Latino students they serve.
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Details
- Title
- Bridging policy and practice
- Creators
- Angélica J. Gutiérrez
- Contributors
- Salvatore Falletta (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xi, 169 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022092855904721