Developing Spanish-Language Campus Tours to Enhance Accessibility and Competitive Recruitment at the University of Mississippi

Author

• Caitlyn E. Culpepper, University of MississippiFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-8-2026

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Modern Languages

First Advisor

Martin Fisher

Second Advisor

Heather Allen

Third Advisor

Whitney Dedmon-Woods

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

This thesis proposes and outlines an initiative that would bring Spanish-language campus tours and visit resources to the University of Mississippi, increasing accessibility to the campus visit experience while also providing institutional benefits within a competitive recruitment landscape. Through a review of current literature on Hispanic/Latino students in higher education, institutional enrollment and recruitment data, comparative research on peer institutions, and conversations with university professionals, this project explores the role that language accessibility, family engagement, and campus visits play in the college decision-making process.

Findings suggest that Hispanic/Latino students remain an underrepresented yet rapidly growing population in higher education and that campus visits serve as one of the strongest predictors of enrollment at the University of Mississippi. This thesis argues that implementing Spanish-language campus tours, information sessions, and related resources could strengthen engagement with Spanish-speaking families while also expanding access to information and enhancing the campus visit experience. In addition to outlining the rationale for this initiative, this thesis also presents a proposed framework for recruitment, training, implementation, evaluation, and future expansion of the program.

Recommended Citation

Culpepper, Caitlyn E., "Developing Spanish-Language Campus Tours to Enhance Accessibility and Competitive Recruitment at the University of Mississippi" (2026). Honors Theses. 3545.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3545

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.