In the wake of the deep recession of 2008 and 2009, there has been increased concern over the current level of financial literacy among American citizens. For many, this concern extends to our college students getting ready to enter the real world as they leave college life behind. This study looks at the preparedness of college students to manage…

The improvement of first generation college student persistence and graduation rates is an undertaking that benefits individuals, society, and the institutions whose mission it is to confer degrees. This goal is one that is best served by an acknowledgment of the causes of attrition as well as understanding the factors that strengthen and…

Students entering postsecondary education embody America's growing diversity. Rapid demographics shifts and changing student attendance patterns pose new challenges for higher education. Enrollment trends vary across states and regions with some areas seeing increased student populations while others are experiencing declining enrollments (Center…

Growth of Latino students in postsecondary education merits an examination of their resources/challenges. A community cultural wealth model provided a framework to examine unacknowledged student resources and challenges. A mixed method approach found that first- and second-generation college students report equal numbers of sources of…

Students in alternative education programs often experience differential access to faculty, advisors, university support systems, and the supportive culture established by being on campus. This study is a descriptive-exploratory program evaluation of the distributed learning social work mentoring program at California State University, Chico. The…

Low-income, first-generation, urban students are typically underprepared academically for college-level course work and lack knowledge, which most non-first-generation students possess (Ward, Siegel, & Davenport, 2012). Success in higher education depends on students effectively navigating and transitioning into an institution (Pike & Kuh,…

This fact sheet focuses on differential rates of college completion by socioeconomic status, the factors researchers think are behind them, and key aspects of promising efforts to help level the playing field and increase college completion among disadvantaged students.

First- and second-year communication classes play an important part in a student's first year of college, a year that is critical to student success because it helps students develop "the college student role" (Collier and Morgan 425). One group of first-year students at risk for struggling with developing "the college student…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how lived experiences prompt first-generation college students to engage as peer mentors, and how they experienced leadership development. Participants included thirteen first-generation college students, who engaged in peer mentoring. An explanatory model that surfaced from data collection…

This article examines the severe educational crisis in the United States regarding the ability of institutions of higher education to recruit, retain and appropriately serve Latin@ English Language Learners (ELLs). In particular, it highlights the plight of undocumented ELLs who attend U.S. high schools and universities, but cannot work upon…

Internationally, research has indicated that returning to education for older learners provides the means for growth and change, for some students this can translate into a sense of "empowerment" and control in their personal lives. However, what is not so well researched is how having a significant "other" present within the…

The expansion of neo-liberal policies' framing higher education has contributed to an increase in participation rates of students from non-traditional backgrounds. While an increase of a wider range of students might be seen as contributing to a more just and equitable higher education system, research has shown that broadening entry points does…

The purpose of this exploratory phenomenological narrative qualitative study was to investigate the influence of Facebook on first-generation college students' selection of a college framed within Hossler and Gallagher's (1987) college process model. The three questions which guided this research explored the influence of the social media website…

Low-income, first-generation students face numerous barriers on the path to college. However, millions of these students persevere and ultimately enroll. How do these students remain motivated on the road to higher education despite these challenges? This collective case study explored influences on the motivation of low-income, first generation…

My mixed-methods doctoral study (2009-2011) investigated the social backgrounds, aspirations and educational experiences of a 2009 cohort of commencing humanities students at an Australian university. I discussed various challenges they faced on and off campus impacting their studies. In this instance, I focus on my research methods. Most students…