Hispanic/Latino Student Community Cultural Wealth, Social Networks, and Career Development at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater: A Report by the Networks and Cultural Assets Project (NCA)

This report presents findings from a pilot mixed-methods study conducted by the Networks and Cultural Assets Project (NCA) examining Hispanic/Latino students’ community cultural wealth (CCW), social support networks, campus engagement, and career development at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. Drawing on survey data (n = 129) and interviews (n = 20), the study applies Yosso’s (2005) Community Cultural Wealth framework alongside social network analysis to document the strengths students bring to college and the ways these assets relate to career attitudes and service use. Findings indicate that participants demonstrate high levels of Aspirational, Navigational, Familial, and Resistant capital, with family-centered networks playing a central role in sustaining hope, coping, and community commitment. Students report a moderate sense of belonging and relatively strong work volition. The report also shows that students' engagement with formal career services varies by year in school, sense of belonging, network characteristics, and career values. Cluster analyses reveal meaningful within-group differences in both career orientations and forms of cultural wealth, underscoring the heterogeneity of Hispanic/Latino students’ experiences. The report concludes with asset-based recommendations for faculty, advisors, and student services professionals to strengthen institutional practices, better connect campus resources to students’ existing networks and values, and support equitable college-to-career pathways.