Promoting Cultural Diversity in Allied Healthcare Programs in Texas

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Abstract

The general purpose of this study was to explore and describe the ethnic minority student recruitment practices and policies and to identify possible barriers related to the recruitment of ethnic minority students to allied health programs at a community college in Texas. The specific purpose of the study was to understand best practices for recruiting ethnic minority students into allied health careers to possibly serve as a model to develop appropriate recruitment practices and policies to attract more ethnic minority students to the allied health programs. The participants were recruiters and advisors at a community college in Texas. Along with the interviews, a review of documents and archival data was conducted to explore the recruiting practices and policies used to attract ethnic minority students to the allied health programs. Three themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) lack of established recruiting practices and policies, (b) lack of knowledge, and (c) strict admission criteria. The findings of this research have implications for community college and allied health leaders to optimize their decision-making strategies of increasing initiatives to create a culturally competent environment dedicated to recruiting and attracting ethnic minorities to the allied health programs and professions.