First Generation Students

Standing in the Doorway of

Success

Why Study First Generation Students?

At Risk Population Growing Segment of

the College Bound Population

Key to Enrollment Success for Many Institutions

Welcome to My House

The Doorway Cultural Differences Who’s Values Will be

Embraced?

“Education is not about learning more, it’s about behaving differently.” -

Ruskin

Studying First Generation Students in the VSC system

Studied Freshmen vs Sophomores Residential campuses/students only 41-question survey using 5-point Likert scale Broke down freshmen Pre-registered from not

returning Purpose – to determine if there were differences

in how these groups responded to questions

Findings of Interest Family

◦ 86% of all students maintained weekly contact Importance of Financial Aid

◦ 57% of Freshmen vs 73% of Sophomores◦ 24% of Freshmen did not know their debt level

Maintaining a Job◦ 59% of Freshmen employed vs 75% of Sophomores

Outside Influence◦ 50% of Freshmen had someone outside the family

influence their decision to attend college

Statistically Significant Findings

Family & Friends Work Connection to

Faculty/Campus Academic Preparation Career

Counseling/Relevance

Influencers

Family and Friends◦ Over 90% of all students reported their families were

supportive of them attending college◦ Over 90% reported their families continued to be

supportive of attending college ◦ Sophomores more likely to have HS friends still

enrolled in college (83% vs 64%) Work

◦ 80% of all respondents worked◦ Sophomores more likely to work only on campus

(44% vs 27%)

Influencers – Continued

Connection to Faculty & Campus◦ PR freshmen were more likely to believe their faculty

advisor was concerned about their success◦ More likely to believe most faculty were interested in

their success◦ More likely to think of themselves as campus citizens vs

customers Academic Preparation

◦ PR freshmen felt more academically prepared for college

◦ Once Enrolled PR freshmen gained confidence in their academic skills

◦ NR Freshmen confidence levels remained the same

Influencers – Continued

Career Counseling & Relevancy◦ PR Freshmen were more likely to be enrolled in a major

that suited their career goals◦ More likely to understand the relevance of a college

education to the real world

What Did We Learn?

First generation students remain close to family and friends in the first year

Work is important We must build stronger

connections with these students

Student issues are not one-dimensional

Academic skills and confidence are important

We must connect relevance of a college education

What are the Answers?

We must understand the cultural transition

Connect appropriate advisors

Connect curriculum to real world relevance

Develop academic confidence