Relying on interviews with 62 college seniors, this study explores students' experiences with uncertainty and responsibility as they approach graduation. Notable differences between first-generation and continuing-generation students emerged in relation to: (a) how seniors experienced responsibility and commitment as they approached graduation,…

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to assess the impact of the Skills Learning Support Program (SLSP) aimed to support entering first-generation college students' motivational beliefs, use of self-regulatory strategies, and academic achievement. The study included 137 students from ethnically diverse cultural backgrounds who were in need…

A classroom activity led by district school counselors was conducted in a K-12 school district to ensure educational equity for students in relation to postsecondary attendance. This took place in a school setting that has a large population of students of color, predominately Latino and African American students, as well as low-income students.…

"Summer melt," an all-too-common phenomenon that predominantly affects low-income and first-generation students during a critical 100-day period between high school graduation and what should be the first day of college. Some students who have been accepted to college simply do not show up to enroll. Admissions officers nationwide have…

As higher education institutions make intentional steps to include underrepresented groups and ensure their success in school, it is particularly important to understand their epistemological, intrapersonal, and interpersonal development as a key factor of supporting their academic and developmental needs. Institutions of higher education are…

Purpose: The purpose of this exploratory case study was to explore coaches' perceptions of their role in facilitating the development of first-generation college student-athletes (FGCSAs) at two community colleges in Southern California. Methodology: The methodology used in this heuristic case study was in-person interviews and documentation with…

For the past few decades, the trend of first generation low-economic status community college students, considerably comprised of immigrants, has continued to grow at a significant rate (Connell, 2008; Ray, 2013; Kim & Diaz, 2013c; Kim, 2014). Community colleges are encountering challenges that were previously viewed as minimal or secondary to…

The California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) campus of 1930s Spanish and Mission-style architecture has around 7,100 students and is truly local-serving: 52 percent of all students enrolled in fall 2018 were from Ventura County, 26 percent came from neighboring Los Angeles County, and most other students hailed from other nearby…

Many community college students express a desire to transfer to a 4-year institution, but few achieve that goal. In this article, we examine what conditions lead to successful student transfer and which serve as barriers. Drawing on data from a longitudinal qualitative study of 61 transfer-intending students in Texas and using qualitative…

This study discusses how a diverse group of Latina/o undergraduate students perceive the ideal graduate-undergraduate mentoring program. Based on Latina/o undergraduate student voices from diverse majors and experiences, the results offer concrete solutions on how graduate student mentoring can play a pivotal role in increasing and enhancing…

Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), those institutions with 25% or more enrolled Latinx students, are an increasingly common part of the U.S. higher-education landscape. Their growth coincides with the increasing Latinx population--from 55 million in 2015 to an estimated 119 million by the end of 2060. Latinx students hail from a variety of…

This study examined intergenerational mobility among former students of The University of Texas System (n = 98,199) by comparing parental household income while the students were in college to students' income five years after exiting the system. The proportion of students who experienced upward mobility relative to their parents were estimated,…

Analysis of diverse first-year and first-generation learning communities students' reflective narratives shows this population of students at an urban commuter college of technology face significant challenges in the transition into college. Designed to assist in this transition, the "Our Stories" digital writing project incorporates…

Drawing on a total of 26 life history interviews with indigenous students in higher education, the article examines the role of activating valued resources and personal strategies to navigate unequal pathways into higher education. In Chile, the historical inequalities for indigenous people's access to higher education are beginning to be…

This review explores the expanding role of federal aid policy considered from a contemporary and social justice perspective. It highlights recent trends in aid policy as well as difficulties that arise from the current system. Next, the review takes up an analysis of current aid policy that carefully considers equity and efficiency as primary…