"I am a First-Generation College Student at NIU Kelly Smith, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

"I am a First-Generation College Student“ at NIU

Kelly Smith, Ph.D. Connie Storey, M.S.Ed. Fall 2018

• Identifying first-generation faculty and staff
• Understanding first-generation students’

needs

• Creating/highlighting first-generation student

support systems

• Connecting first-generation students with

faculty/staff and alumni who self-identify as first-generation

Learning Outcomes

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for 2011-2012 academic year:

• 34% of undergraduates were the first in their families to go to

college.

• An additional 28% had parents with at least some college

experience but not a bachelor’s degree. At NIU:

FGCS By the Numbers

Fall 2017 Undergraduates New Freshmen All Undergraduates Count 1852 13454 First Generation 52% 48%

Compared to peers from college-educated families:

• Less family and social support
• Higher levels of stress
• More likely to come from low SES and minority backgrounds
• Interact with peers less
• More likely to live off-campus
• Work more hours per week
• Access to fewer supportive resources
• Received less academic preparation during high school
• Often enroll in community college, then may go on to a 4-year school
• More likely to drop out of college after the first year
• Cite reasons for attending college as

– Upward social capitalism – Ability to help out their family financially after graduation

Bui 2002; Collier & Morgan, 2008; Jenkins el al., 2013; Mehta et al., 2011; Soria & Stebleton, 2012

FGCS Student Profile

• Support system
• How much they identify with the collegiate experience
• Amount of additional responsibilities (work and family

commitments)

• Expectations about college established prior to

matriculation, especially along race and class social identities – Who belongs? – Who would be successful in higher education?

Collier & Morgan, 2008; Orbe, 2004; Jenkins et al, 2013

Transition to College Depends On:

• Understanding the importance of familial and cultural

norms

• Balancing home, work, and school
• Addressing negative intrapsychic emotions (guilt, fear,

sadness, loneliness)

• Connection to support groups
• Helping students bridge the initial gap of arrival/doubt

to developing experience/agency

– connection to financial, academic, and social resources – particularly with people and places who feel “safe” on campus due to shared culture/understanding of their experiences

Implications for Working with FGCS

Enhance students sense of belonging:

• Connection to early programs
• Need-based scholarship programs
• Social-identity based student organizations
• Community-building within residence halls
• Supportive faculty and mentors
• Academic support services
• High-impact educational practices (i.e. study abroad,

service learning programs)

Institutional Support Structures

Means & Pyne 2017

• Survey to faculty and staff
• Proposal (initial meetings)
• Creating working group
• Evaluation
• Website updates
• Door decorations

Identifying first-generation faculty and staff

• Proposal
• Working Group (guests)
• White paper/fact sheet
• NIU Today articles
• Evaluation

Understanding first-generation student needs

• Website updates
• Breaking Barriers
• Imposter Syndrome event
• Resource Fair

Building/highlighting first- generation student support systems

• NIU Today articles on website
• Website updates
• Breaking Barriers
• Imposter Syndrome event
• Alumni/faculty speaker
• Faculty Social Room

Connecting first-generation students with faculty/staff and alumni

• Breaking Barriers
• I am First Gen!

First-Generation Support at NIU

First-Generation Welcome Head Start Event Report: Year in School Day 1-2

Are you a first-generation student?

After attending this event I feel more prepared for college at NIU?

After attending this event, I feel more confident that I will find support at NIU.

What was most helpful at this event?

Check all that apply. After attending this event, I plan to:

How did you hear about this event?

• Break into small groups for discussion
• Report back as a large group

How can you do this on your campus?

References

Barry, L., Hudley, C., Kelly, M., & Cho, S. (2009). Differences in self-reported disclosure of college experiences by first-generation college student status. Adolescence, 44, 55-68. Bui, K. (2002). First-generation college students at a four-year university: Background characteristics, reasons for pursuing higher education, and first-year experiences. College Student Journal, 36, 3-11. Collier, P. & Morgan, D. (2008). “is that paper really due today?”: Differences in first-generation and traditional students’ understanding of faculty expectations. Higher Education, 55, 425-446. Covarrubias, R., Romero, A., & Trivelli, M. (2015). Family Achievement Guilt and Mental Well-being

• f College Students. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24, 2031-2037.

Gibbons, M. & Shoffner, M. (2004). Prospective first-generation college students: Meeting their needs through social cognitive career theory. Professional School Counseling, 8, 91-97. Jenkins, S., Belanger, A., Londono Connally, M., Boals, A., & Duron, K. (2013). First generation undergraduate students’ social supports, depression, and life satisfaction. Journal of College Counseling, 16, 129-142. Means, D. & Pyne, K. (2017). Finding my way: Perceptions of institutional support and belonging in low-income, first-generation, first-year college students. Journal of College Student Development, 58, 907-924.

Mehta, S., Newbold, J. & O’Rourke, M. (2011). Why do first-generation students fail? College Student Journal, 45, 20-35. Orbe, M. (2004). Negotiating multiple identities within multiple frames: An analysis of first-generation college students. Communication Education, 53, 131-149. Padgett, R., Johnson, M., & Pascarella, E. (2012). First-generation undergraduate students and the impacts of the first year of college: Additional evidence. Journal of College Student Development, 53, 243-266. Pascarella, E., Pierson, C., Wolniak, G., & Terenzini, P. (2004). First-generation college students: Additional evidence on college experiences and outcomes. Journal of Higher Education, 75, 249-284. Reid, M. & Moore, J. (2008). College Readiness and academic preparation for postsecondary education: Oral histories of first-generation college students. Urban Education, 43, 240-261. Soria, K., & Stebleton, M. (2012). First-generation students’ academic engagement and retention. Teaching in Higher Education, 17, 673-685 Stebleton, M., Soria, K., & Huesman Jr, R. (2014). First-generation students sense of belonging, mental health, and use of counseling services at public research universities. Journal of College Counseling, 17, 6-20.

References