Dr. Rowena Tomaneng
About 88% of AAPI adults believe a college degree is “essential or important” to supporting a family, compared with only 76% of all U.S. adults a year ago, according to the survey. Furthermore, 86% of AAPI adults versus 70% of the general population believe holding a college degree is “essential or important” to minimizing debt long-term. And 78% of AAPI adults believe earning a degree is “essential or important” to being “an informed and engaged citizen.” In contrast, only 62% of all U.S. adults have that opinion.
Those are among the findings of a new national poll of AAPI adults conducted in April. Poll results were released last week during a panel discussion held virtually that was titled “Voices of AAPI Communities: AAPI Views on Education, Taxes, Economy & Federal Budget.”
The opinions of the general U.S. population were measured separately in May 2024.
The latest survey shows that 87% of AAPI adults worry about increases in student loan debt. Also, 65% of AAPIs polled oppose federal funding cuts to colleges with diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Dr. Rowena Tomaneng, deputy chancellor of California Community Colleges, shared during last week’s panel discussion her observations from several recent affinity-themed graduation ceremonies.
“The students were grateful for support from counselors, from faculty,” Tomaneng said. “But the threat to ending DEI programs makes them feel unwanted, that they don’t belong. We already know that DEI programming increases student engagement and leads to student success. A few of these graduation celebrations were for international students. They have feared revocation of their visas. They have feared federal agents coming onto their campuses.”
