Nonwhite Students Meet With Academic Advisors More, But Receive Fewer Benefits Than White Students

Some scholars have theorized that marginalized students are less likely to connect with authority figures in college and therefore do not reap the benefits those people can provide. However, a new study led by scholars at New York University, in partnership with Princeton University, has challenged this assumption, finding that students of color do visit academic advisors more often, but do not receive the same benefits as their White classmates.

Using data from 2017 to 2021, the authors examined student achievement, demographics, and appointments with advisors at a U.S. university with one of the largest undergraduate populations in the country. They found nonwhite and international students met with advisors more frequently than White students from the United States. Despite their increased engagement with academic advisors, students of color received fewer academic benefits than their White peers. Although most groups experienced GPA benefits to advising, graduation rates were only higher for White students.

“Our study highlights the importance of advising: it does have an impact, but the question now should be for whom,” said Dr. Hua-Yu Sebastian Cherng, lead author and professor of international education at NYU. “Efforts should be paid to the substance of advising and how advisors work with different groups of students. Only in this way can advising fulfill its purpose as an equalizing force.”